Battery Cooler Pressure Channels for Underbody Impact Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery systems face challenges in efficiently detecting underbody contact events and managing thermal management, leading to costly and burdensome replacements of entire systems due to localized defects.

Innovation Solution

A battery system with integrated cooling and pressure detection channels, utilizing gaseous media in pressure detection channels to monitor underbody impacts, allowing for precise detection and assessment of impact severity, thereby simplifying assembly and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate impact detection means are added to the battery system, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooler is designed to perform multiple functions: thermal management through cooling channels and impact detection through pressure detection channels. By integrating these functions into a single component, the system achieves improved detection capability without adding separate impact detection means, thus avoiding increased device complexity and cost

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the cooling function and impact detection function into a single cooler component. The cooling channels and pressure detection channels are integrated within the same structural element, merging two previously separate systems into one unified component that reduces overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If the cooler is integrated with pressure detection channels, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcooling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooler is segmented into distinct functional zones with separate cooling channels and pressure detection channels. This segmentation allows each channel type to perform its specific function independently without interfering with the other, maintaining optimal cooling performance while achieving functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cooler are designed with different local qualities: cooling channels are positioned and dimensioned for optimal heat dissipation, while pressure detection channels are positioned and dimensioned for optimal impact sensing. This localized optimization ensures that integration does not compromise either function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient detection and assessment of underbody impacts, reducing the risk of thermal damage and enabling timely repairs, thus minimizing system downtime and environmental hazards.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor fluidly connected to the pressure detection channel and adapted to detect an underbody contact or impact event by monitoring the pressure in the pressure detection channel by the pressure sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a cooler (thermally) connected to the battery cells and an underbody protection structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4542725B1Battery system and method for monitoring a battery system
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4542725B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4542725B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure refers to a battery system (100), including a battery pack (10) including a housing (11) and a plurality of battery cells (12) accommodated within the housing (11), and a cooler (20) thermally connected to the battery cells (12) and an underbody protection structure (30). The cooler (20) is arranged between the underbody protection structure (30) and the battery pack (10). The cooler (20) includes at least one cooling channel (22) and at least one pressure detection channel (24) separated from the cooling channel (22) and arranged inside the cooler (20). The battery back further includes a pressure detection device (40) with a pressure sensor (42) fluidly connected to the pressure detection channel (24) and adapted to detect an underbody contact or impact event by monitoring the pressure in the pressure detection channel (24) by the pressure sensor (42).