Vehicle Battery Damage Detection from Vertical Acceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting damage to vehicle batteries are inadequate, as they typically only switch off the battery after damage has occurred, failing to prevent potential time-delayed defects or fires, especially during accidents or driving over obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines potential damage by measuring vertical acceleration of the vehicle using sensors, such as acceleration, wheel speed, or spring travel sensors, and generates a control signal to alert occupants or initiate emergency braking to prevent battery damage, combining data from multiple sensors to enhance reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery-internal sensors (temperature, current, voltage) are used to monitor battery functionality, then the battery can be monitored for faults, but the battery is only switched off after damage has already occurred

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidtime delay in detecting damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using acceleration sensors to detect potential damage events (accidents, driving over obstacles) before actual battery damage occurs. The system proactively identifies risk situations and switches off the battery in advance, preventing the time delay inherent in reactive sensor-based monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using acceleration sensors as an indirect indicator of potential battery damage. Instead of directly monitoring battery internal state, the system measures vehicle acceleration events that may cause damage, serving as a mediator to predict and prevent battery faults before they manifest in battery-internal sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If passive protective measures (aramid underride guard, underbody guard) are used to protect the battery, then the battery is protected against shock or impact damage, but costly protective measures are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidprotective structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical protective measures (aramid underride guards, underbody guards) with an electronic control system. Instead of relying on passive mechanical structures to absorb impact, the system uses acceleration sensors and electronic control to detect damage events and switch off the battery, eliminating the need for costly and complex mechanical protective structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the battery is switched off as a precaution when damage is detected, then battery safety is improved, but the battery is only switched off when damage is already unavoidable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidresponse time to prevent damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by switching off the battery based on predicted damage from acceleration events before actual damage occurs. The system proactively responds to potential threats (detected via acceleration sensors) rather than reactively responding to manifested damage, thereby eliminating the time loss between damage occurrence and battery shutdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach allows for early detection of potential battery damage, reducing the risk of fires and improving traffic safety by enabling timely repairs, potentially eliminating the need for costly protective measures.

Implementation Method 1

measuring vertical acceleration of the vehicle using sensors, such as acceleration, wheel speed, or spring travel sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS11738661B2Method for determining potential damage to a vehicle battery and motor vehicle having a vehicle battery

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 AUDI AG

AI summary

A method for determining potential damage to a vehicle battery. In the method, at least one acceleration data set relating to a vertical acceleration of a motor vehicle, which includes the vehicle battery, is determined. The at least one acceleration data set is then checked for the presence of a predetermined damage criterion, which indicates the potential damage to the vehicle battery. Finally, only for the case that the damage criterion is determined in the at least one acceleration data set, a control signal for actuating an actuator device of the motor vehicle is generated.