Multi-Series Battery Control IC Addressing via Sequential Signal Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery control systems require wirings for address setting in integrated circuits, leading to increased size and cost due to the need for address-setting terminals and wirings, which complicates the setup process.

Innovation Solution

A multi-series battery control system where integrated circuits are sequentially connected via a transmission path, allowing signals to be input and output in sequence to set unique addresses without the need for wirings, using an address setting means within each integrated circuit to receive and alter messages for address initialization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If address-setting terminals and wirings are used to set addresses of integrated circuits, then addresses can be uniquely identified, but the size and cost of integrated circuits increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress identificationVSAvoidintegrated circuit size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the address-setting function from the hardware domain (terminals and wirings) and moves it to the software domain (communication messages). The address setting means within each integrated circuit receives address information through communication messages transmitted via the transmission path, eliminating the need for dedicated address-setting terminals and associated wirings, thereby reducing integrated circuit size while maintaining reliable address identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission path is designed to serve multiple functions: it transmits both control messages for address setting and operational messages for battery management. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated address-setting wirings, as the same communication infrastructure handles both configuration and operational communications, reducing overall system complexity and component count

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

2Reliability

If address-setting terminals and wirings are used to set addresses of integrated circuits, then addresses can be uniquely identified, but the cost of integrated circuits increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress identificationVSAvoidintegrated circuit cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the address-setting function from the hardware domain (terminals and wirings) and moves it to the software domain (communication messages). The address setting means within each integrated circuit receives address information through communication messages transmitted via the transmission path, eliminating the need for dedicated address-setting terminals and associated wirings, thereby reducing integrated circuit size while maintaining reliable address identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the address-setting function with the operational communication function. The same transmission path and message transmission mechanism used for operational communications is also used for address setting. This consolidation eliminates redundant hardware components and reduces manufacturing complexity, leading to lower production costs while ensuring reliable address identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple address-setting terminals and wirings are provided for each integrated circuit, then unique addresses can be assigned, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress assignmentVSAvoidaddress setting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the address-setting function from the hardware domain (terminals and wirings) and moves it to the software domain (communication messages). The address setting means within each integrated circuit receives address information through communication messages transmitted via the transmission path, eliminating the need for dedicated address-setting terminals and associated wirings, thereby reducing integrated circuit size while maintaining reliable address identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission path is designed to serve multiple functions: it transmits both control messages for address setting and operational messages for battery management. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated address-setting wirings, as the same communication infrastructure handles both configuration and operational communications, reducing overall system complexity and component count

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

Data Source

PatentEP2043220B1Multi-series battery control system
Publication Date: 2016.02.10 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP2043220B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2043220B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2043220B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3(b)

AI summary

A multi-series battery control system comprises battery cell groups each having a plurality of serially connected battery cells, a plurality of integrated circuits each disposed in correspondence to the battery cell groups and a battery control device that exchanges signals with the individual integrated circuits. The integrated circuits are sequentially connected with a transmission path, and a signal from the battery control device is then repeatedly input and output in sequence from the first to last integrated circuit. The signal output from the integrated circuit at the last position is transmitted to the battery control device. Each integrated circuit includes an address setting means that receives a message unique to the integrated circuit from the battery control device, writes over an initialized address of the integrated circuit with the message and alters the message to a message with which an initialized address of another integrated circuit cannot be overwritten in a step assigned with an ordinal number matching the position of the integrated circuit with regard to the connection order.