Battery Control Circuit with Time-Managed Power Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery control circuits for managing State of Charge (SOC) in power supply devices with multiple electric storage means connected in series lack simplicity and efficiency in reducing SOC when it is high, and in balancing SOC across multiple batteries.

Innovation Solution

A battery control circuit with a voltage detection circuit, switches for parallel resistance connection, a signal input/output circuit, and a power supply circuit with low consumption current mode, along with a time management circuit to manage operation periods and shift modes, enabling continuous operation and enhanced SOC balancing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the battery control circuit operates continuously in normal mode to reduce SOC when high, then the SOC reduction speed increases, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSOC reduction speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply circuit dynamically switches between normal mode and low consumption current mode based on operational needs. The control circuit adjusts its operating state in real-time, transitioning to low consumption mode after completing SOC balancing tasks or when idle, thereby optimizing the trade-off between SOC reduction speed and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit employs periodic operation by alternating between active SOC balancing periods and idle low-consumption periods. The power supply circuit is configured to operate in normal mode only when SOC balancing is required, and switch to low consumption current mode during idle periods,实现ing periodic action that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining productivity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the power supply circuit switches to low consumption current mode immediately after operation stop, then power consumption decreases, but SOC balancing cannot be completed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidSOC balancing completion
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary SOC balancing operations before switching to low consumption current mode. The power supply circuit is designed to complete necessary SOC equalization tasks among battery cells before transitioning to idle mode, ensuring that reliability requirements are met before power consumption is reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit autonomously monitors SOC levels and determines when switching to low consumption mode is appropriate. The system self-manages the transition timing based on internal SOC measurements, ensuring that SOC balancing is sufficiently completed before reducing power consumption, without requiring external intervention or complex timing circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple battery cells are balanced using individual resistance connections, then SOC distribution uniformity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSOC distribution uniformityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit merges the SOC balancing control functions into a single integrated microcontroller unit. Instead of requiring separate control circuits for each battery cell, the invention uses one control circuit to manage all switching operations for multiple battery cells, thereby improving SOC distribution uniformity while minimizing device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply circuit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the power source for the control circuit and as the switching mechanism for SOC balancing. The same power supply circuit that powers the control circuitry also enables the switching of battery cell connections to resistances, eliminating the need for separate balancing circuitry and reducing overall device complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2400626B1Battery control circuit
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP2400626B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2400626B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2400626B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A battery control circuit includes a voltage detection circuit (124) for measuring voltages of electric cells (111), balancing circuits for balancing the voltages or SOCs of the electric cells (111), a signal input/output circuit (129) for communicating with the outside, a power supply circuit (126) having two modes: a normal mode and a low consumption mode, and a time management circuit (127). It receives a signal containing a period of time until the shift of the power supply circuit (126) from the normal mode to the low consumption mode, and stores it in the time management circuit (127). If a command from the outside has not been sent for a predetermined period of time or when an operation stop command has been sent from the outside, the time management circuit (127) causes the power supply circuit (126) to continuously operate in the normal mode. Then, the battery control circuit monitors an operation continuation period in the normal mode, and causes the power supply circuit (126) to shift to the low consumption mode when the operation continuation period matches the stored period of time.