Battery Heating Pad Control Using Temperature and Current Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs face challenges in safely managing temperature, as they can overheat, leading to potential fires or explosions, and existing solutions like disposable fuses do not allow for reusability and fail to address the heat generation issue effectively.

Innovation Solution

A heating pad control apparatus is introduced, which includes a main relay, a heating pad, a heating relay, and a control unit that measures and regulates temperature and current to control the heating pad's operation, preventing overheating by disconnecting the heating pad when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a disposable fuse is used to short the battery when temperature reaches a certain level, then the battery pack safety is improved, but the battery pack cannot be reused and the heat generation factor cannot be solved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery pack safetyVSAvoidreusability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static, one-time fuse with a dynamic heating pad control system that can adjust its operation based on real-time temperature conditions. The heating relay dynamically controls the heating pad's operation state (on/off) based on temperature sensor feedback, allowing the system to adapt to changing thermal conditions and enable battery pack reuse after cooling down.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control through a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the battery pack temperature and feeds this information to the heating relay. The heating relay then adjusts the heating pad operation based on the temperature feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents overheating while maintaining reusability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the heating pad operates continuously to maintain battery temperature, then the battery performance is improved, but the temperature control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery performanceVSAvoidtemperature control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating control apparatus uses feedback control where the temperature sensor continuously monitors battery pack temperature and the heating relay adjusts the heating pad operation based on this feedback. This simple feedback mechanism maintains battery performance without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies self-service principle where the heating pad automatically regulates its own operation based on temperature conditions. When the battery temperature is low, the heating pad activates to warm it; when the temperature is sufficient, the heating pad turns off automatically, eliminating the need for complex external control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution effectively maintains the battery pack's temperature within a safe range, reducing the risk of damage and accidents, and allows for the battery pack's reuse by preventing overheating.

Implementation Method 1

a heating pad disposed on a heating line connected to the main charging and discharging line to generate heat when a current is applied thereto

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3958376B1Heating pad control apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3958376B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3958376B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3958376B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to providing a heating pad control apparatus capable of preventing a battery pack from maintaining a high-temperature state by controlling an operating state of a heating pad based on a temperature of the battery pack and a current flowing through the battery pack. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that the temperature of the battery pack may be prevented from rising above a certain level. Accordingly, since the temperature of the battery pack is maintained at a certain level, damage to the elements provided in the battery pack is reduced, and the use efficiency of the battery pack may be improved.