EV Battery Real-Time Clock Powering via High-Voltage Divider
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle battery systems lack an efficient and cost-effective method to provide a stable power supply for real-time clock functionality across varying operational states, leading to potential system failures and increased production costs due to high power consumption and costly linear voltage regulators.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a real-time clock within the battery disconnect module, utilizing a voltage divider to convert high voltage input from the high voltage system into a supply voltage for the low voltage system, allowing the real-time clock to draw power from both low and high voltage systems based on operational states, ensuring continuous operation while minimizing power losses and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a real-time clock is powered by the low voltage system only, then the system is simple to implement, but the real-time clock may fail during high voltage operational states or when low voltage power is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time clock is designed to accept power from multiple sources (low voltage system and high voltage system through voltage divider) making it universally powered across different operational states. This multi-functionality ensures the clock remains operational whether the vehicle is in low voltage mode, high voltage mode, or during transitions, eliminating single-point failures while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Reliability
If a linear voltage regulator is used to power the real-time clock from the high voltage system, then stable power supply is achieved, but production costs and power losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using an expensive and power-hungry linear voltage regulator, the patent employs a simple passive voltage divider circuit that uses minimal components (resistors) and consumes negligible power. This approach provides sufficient voltage for the real-time clock during high voltage operational states without the excessive power losses and costs associated with active voltage regulation, aligning with the principle of using simple, low-cost solutions when adequate.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the real-time clock is integrated into the battery disconnect module with dual power sourcing, then power consumption is minimized and reliability maximized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time clock is integrated into the battery disconnect module, merging multiple functions (power disconnect control and timekeeping) into a single module. This integration shares common components such as the microcontroller unit and memory between the battery disconnect functionality and the real-time clock, reducing overall system complexity despite the dual power sourcing capability. The shared architecture minimizes additional complexity while enabling intelligent power management that reduces overall power consumption.
4Reliability
If the real-time clock operates during all operational states including thermal runaway prevention, then system monitoring is improved, but power management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery disconnect controller monitors the operational state of the battery system and uses this feedback to intelligently control power supply to the real-time clock. Based on feedback from system conditions (voltage levels, operational state), the controller automatically switches power sources or adjusts power delivery, enabling continuous monitoring during all operational states including thermal runaway prevention scenarios without requiring complex manual power management. This automated feedback-based control simplifies the overall power management despite the enhanced monitoring requirements.
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 provides a secure and efficient power supply for the real-time clock across all operational states, reducing power consumption and production costs, while ensuring continuous system time and preventing failures due to thermal runaway or short circuits.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a voltage divider to convert high voltage input from the high voltage system into a supply voltage for the low voltage system
Data Source
AI summary
An electric-vehicle battery system includes a high voltage system with a plurality of connected rechargeable battery cells; a low voltage system with an operating voltage lower than an operating voltage of the high voltage system, the low voltage system supplying a battery system manager; and a real time clock configured to provide a system time to the battery system manager. The real time clock may be at least temporarily powered by the high voltage system.