Battery Management Control Logic Updates Without Downtime

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery management systems require on-site visits and system interruptions for software updates, leading to inefficiencies in time and material costs.

Innovation Solution

A battery management apparatus and method that utilizes a virtual machine to execute updated control logic without stopping battery monitoring, using a memory and processor to manage control logic updates through a loader and external storage devices like HDDs or EEPROMs, enabling real-time updates without system downtime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional software update method is used (on-site visit with system interruption), then software can be updated, but system operation is interrupted and time/material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update capabilityVSAvoidsystem operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into two independent execution environments: a traditional execution environment for current software and a virtual machine environment for updated software. This segmentation allows the updated software to be tested and executed in isolation without affecting the running system, enabling updates without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The updated software is loaded and executed in the virtual machine before the traditional software is stopped. This preliminary action allows verification of the updated software's functionality and compatibility before full system switch, ensuring smooth transitions without operational interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If on-site visit is performed for software update, then software update is achieved, but time and material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update capabilityVSAvoidupdate time cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service software updates by automatically loading and executing updated software in the virtual machine environment. The updated software can be remotely transferred and automatically installed without requiring on-site technical personnel, significantly reducing time and material costs associated with on-site visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If virtual machine is introduced for updated control logic execution, then continuous battery monitoring is maintained during updates, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery monitoring continuityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual machine acts as an intermediary layer between the hardware and the updated software. This intermediary provides a sandboxed execution environment that isolates the updated software from the running system, allowing safe concurrent execution without requiring complex deep modifications to the underlying hardware or core system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250347745A1Battery management device and method, and battery system including same

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disccussed are a battery management apparatus and method, and a battery system. The battery management apparatus can recognize and execute an updated control logic from a control logic generator by a virtual machine in real time, thereby enabling execution of the updated control logic without stopping the battery management system and providing software capable of a highly efficient battery management operation.