Battery Control Communication Using Reflected Visible Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication methods between electronic control devices in electric batteries face challenges such as high costs and electromagnetic interference due to wired connections, and difficulties with radiofrequency communication in metallic environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an unguided visible light communication system using photoemitters and photoreceivers within the battery housing, where local control devices communicate with a global control device via LiFi protocol, allowing for contactless communication through reflections on the housing's interior, reducing the need for cables and minimizing electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired communication is used between global control device and local control devices, then communication reliability is improved, but the number of cables increases resulting in increased cost and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired communication system with an optical communication system using light signals. Local control devices communicate with the global control device through light-based transmission, eliminating the need for physical cables while maintaining communication reliability within the battery housing.
2Reliability
If wired communication is used between global control device and local control devices, then communication stability is improved, but electromagnetic interference increases altering data signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical signal transmission through cables with optical signal transmission through light. This replacement eliminates the electromagnetic interference that plagues wired communication, as light signals are not susceptible to electromagnetic fields generated by battery operations.
3Device complexity
If radiofrequency communication is used between control devices, then cable requirements are reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates in metallic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radiofrequency electromagnetic wave communication with optical communication using visible or infrared light. This substitution is specifically designed to overcome the limitations of radiofrequency communication in metallic environments, where metal surfaces and structures interfere with RF signal propagation, while maintaining the benefit of reduced cable requirements.
4Device complexity
If unguided visible light communication is used between control devices, then cable requirements are reduced and electromagnetic interference is minimized, but communication reliability may be affected by light signal reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reflective surfaces as intermediary elements within the battery housing to manage light signal propagation. These reflective surfaces are strategically positioned to guide light signals from local control devices to the global control device, ensuring reliable communication while utilizing the natural optical properties of the battery structure.
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 provides reliable, cost-effective, and flexible communication within the battery, reducing power consumption and susceptibility to electromagnetic disturbances, while allowing for easy expansion of control functionalities and capacity.
Implementation Method 1
each first electronic control device comprises at least one photoemitter, and the second electronic control device comprises at least one photoreceiver
Implementation Method 2
each first electronic control device comprises at least one photoemitter, and the second electronic control device comprises at least one photoreceiver
Implementation Method 3
the communication between said devices involving reflections on an inner face of the housing. The housing has an inner face reflective to the wavelengths of the communication system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
This description relates to a communication system in an electric battery (100) comprising a plurality of elementary cells arranged in a case (103), this system comprising first (CTLi) and second (CTG) electronic control devices intended to be placed inside the case, in which the first (CTLi) and second (CTG) electronic control devices are adapted to communicate with each other according to a communication method using unguided visible light.