Battery Control Apparatus for Internal Short Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery control systems are unable to rapidly detect internal shorts in rechargeable batteries, which can lead to thermal runaway, especially during continuous charging or discharging, and require lengthy stable voltage periods for detection.

Innovation Solution

A battery control apparatus comprising a measuring unit, detecting unit, and control unit that monitors voltage and current changes during charging and discharging cycles to rapidly identify internal shorts by analyzing voltage and current patterns, preventing thermal runaway by interrupting charging or discharging when a short is detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a check time of several tens of minutes is required to detect internal short in stable voltage state, then detection accuracy is improved, but detection speed deteriorates and continuous charging/discharging states cannot be monitored

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternal short detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from voltage (which requires stable state and long check time) to current (which can be measured during continuous charging/discharging). By measuring current instead of voltage, the system achieves both fast detection and accurate detection without requiring the battery to be in a stable voltage state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by continuously measuring current during charging/discharging processes. This allows the system to detect internal shorts in real-time during operation rather than waiting for stable voltage conditions, enabling both speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If voltage measurement is used for internal short detection, then detection can be performed in stable state, but detection cannot be performed during continuous charging or discharging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliability in stable stateVSAvoiddetection capability during charging/discharging
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the detection system universal by using current measurement that works in all states (stable state, continuous charging, and continuous discharging). The current measurement approach eliminates the limitation of voltage-based detection that only works in stable states, providing adaptability across all operating conditions.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from voltage to current. Current can be measured in all operating states including continuous charging and discharging, making the detection system versatile and adaptable to different battery states while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If lengthy stable voltage period is required for detection, then false detection is reduced, but detection time increases and real-time monitoring is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse detection rateVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from voltage to current. Current measurement does not require lengthy stable periods and can provide reliable detection results in real-time during continuous charging/discharging, reducing both detection time and loss of time while maintaining low false detection rate through appropriate threshold setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback by continuously measuring current and comparing it with predetermined thresholds. This real-time feedback mechanism allows for immediate detection without requiring lengthy stable periods, reducing detection time while maintaining precision through threshold-based validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3599694B1Battery control apparatus and method for detecting internal short of battery
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3599694B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3599694B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3599694B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for detecting an internal short of a battery, which includes: measuring a voltage of a battery a plurality of times; and determining whether the internal short of the battery occurs based on a difference between a first voltage value of the battery during a first time period and a second voltage value during a second time period when the battery is in constant current charging, in which the second time period is a time period after the first time period.