Battery Controller Driving Pins for MOSFET Switch Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery management systems require additional discrete drivers to control high-voltage MOSFET switches, increasing cost, size, and power consumption due to limited low-voltage GPIO pins on the MCU.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating dedicated driving pins on the battery controller to directly control charge and discharge switches, eliminating the need for additional discrete drivers by using GPIO pins to output high-voltage signals for MOSFET control, and implementing a master-slave controller architecture for balanced current management across multiple battery cell groups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional discrete drivers are added to control high-voltage MOSFET switches, then the battery management system can properly control charge and discharge switches, but the system cost, size, and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMOSFET control capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the MCU and driver functions into a single integrated battery management device. The MCU includes dedicated driving pins that directly control the MOSFET switches without requiring external discrete drivers. This integration eliminates the need for separate driver circuits, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable MOSFET control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The MCU is designed with multi-functional pins that can operate as both general-purpose I/O pins and high-voltage driving pins for MOSFET control. This universal pin design allows the same pin to serve multiple functions depending on configuration, eliminating the need for separate dedicated driver components while maintaining the ability to control high-voltage switches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional discrete drivers are added to control high-voltage MOSFET switches, then the battery management system can properly control charge and discharge switches, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMOSFET control capabilityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMOSFET control capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The MCU provides its own high-voltage driving capability through integrated driving pins, eliminating the need for external driver circuits that would consume additional power. The integrated design allows the MCU to directly drive the MOSFET gates with appropriate high-voltage signals, reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining reliable switch control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If conventional MCU with low-voltage GPIO pins is used, then the system can be simpler, but it cannot directly control high-voltage MOSFET switches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidMOSFET control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by enabling the MCU pins to operate at different voltage levels. The driving pins can switch between low-voltage GPIO mode and high-voltage MOSFET driving mode, allowing the same hardware to adapt to different control requirements without adding external voltage conversion circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11362522B2Systems and methods for managing a battery pack

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 UBS AG SINGAPORE BRANCH AS SECURITY AGENT

AI summary

A battery controller includes a first driving pin, a second driving pin and a third driving pin. The first driving pin is coupled to a charge switch and is operable for turning on the charge switch to enable a battery pack to be charged by a power source. The second driving pin is coupled to a first discharge switch and is operable for turning on the first discharge switch to enable the battery pack to power a first load. The third driving pin is coupled to a second discharge switch and is operable for turning on the second discharge switch to enable the battery pack to power a second load.