Battery Module Communication Interface for Compact EV Power Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply devices face challenges in maintaining compactness and reliability due to the need for separate wiring spaces for power and communication lines, which are prone to damage and hinder stable signal transmission, especially in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
The power supply device integrates a communication interface with a higher withstand voltage than the output voltage, allowing non-parallel communication lines to be connected optimally, reducing the need for separate wiring spaces and enhancing reliability by preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If communication line is wired between battery modules to cascade-connect cell monitor circuits, then battery information can be transmitted through one communication line, but wiring space is required between battery modules which enlarges the entire power supply device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from spatial wiring between battery modules to temporal/signal-based communication through existing power lines. By injecting communication signals onto the power lines and using signal processing at the controller end, the solution eliminates the need for separate physical communication wiring between modules, thus reducing wiring space while maintaining communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The power lines serve dual functions: both power transmission and communication signal transmission. The controller can identify communication signals by their specific frequency or pattern, allowing the same physical infrastructure to handle both electrical power delivery and data communication, thereby eliminating dedicated communication wiring.
2Volume of moving object
If communication line is wired in narrow wiring space to make power supply device compact, then device size is reduced, but communication line is easily damaged by being sandwiched between battery modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication function from the physical wiring domain and transfers it to the signal processing domain. By removing the need for separate communication lines between battery modules and using the existing power line infrastructure for both power and communication, the solution eliminates the vulnerability of communication lines to mechanical damage while maintaining compact device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical communication line system with an electrical signal-based communication system that utilizes the existing power line infrastructure. This substitution eliminates the mechanical vulnerability of dedicated communication wiring to sandwiching and damage between modules.
3Reliability
If communication line is damaged in severe environment with vibrations and temperature variations, then stable transmission of battery information to external control unit cannot be maintained, but preventing damage requires larger wiring space
Solution Approach 1:
The power lines perform dual functions as both power carriers and communication channels. The controller detects communication signals by their specific frequency or pattern, enabling reliable data transmission through the existing robust power line infrastructure without requiring additional vulnerable communication wiring in severe environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces vulnerable mechanical communication wiring with signal-based communication over power lines. This eliminates the problem of communication line damage in severe environments while maintaining reliable signal transmission, as the power line infrastructure is already designed to handle mechanical stresses.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply device connects a plurality of battery modules including a plurality of battery cells by power line. Battery module includes cell monitor circuit that detects battery information, and a plurality of cell monitor circuits provided in each battery module are cascade-connected via communication line. Cell monitor circuit includes communication interface including connection parts formed by connecting communication line, and communication interface sets a withstand voltage applied to connection part to be higher than an output voltage of the power supply device.