Battery Management Unit Translation Unit for EMI Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems in hybrid and electric vehicles face challenges in accurately monitoring battery cell voltages over long distances due to electromagnetic interference, which can disrupt communication between monitoring units and the control unit, particularly on non-differential bus protocols like SPI, I²C, and CAN, leading to potential data loss and reduced system reliability.
Innovation Solution
A battery management unit with a translation unit that communicates using a differential protocol on the first bus for robustness and electromagnetic compatibility, and a standardized but sensitive protocol on the second bus, with the translation unit and microcontroller closely located to minimize exposure to electromagnetic radiation, allowing for efficient data translation and protection against interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standardized bus protocol (SPI, I²C, CAN) is used for communication between the control unit and monitoring units, then the ease of operation and compatibility are improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to electromagnetic interference over long distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation unit as an intermediary component that converts signals from the robust differential first bus protocol to the standardized second bus protocol. This translation unit is positioned physically close to the monitoring units, acting as a mediator that enables standardized communication while protecting against electromagnetic interference by maintaining the sensitive standardized protocol communication over short distances only.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the control unit is positioned far from the monitoring units to accommodate battery pack design, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased exposure to electromagnetic radiation and potential data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two distinct parts: a first bus connecting monitoring units in a daisy-chain configuration for robust differential communication, and a second standardized bus connecting the translation unit to the microcontroller. This segmentation allows the monitoring units to be distributed throughout the battery pack (improving adaptability) while the sensitive standardized protocol communication is confined to a short distance between the translation unit and microcontroller (maintaining reliability).
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery management unit comprising a plurality of monitoring units (12) is described, wherein each monitoring unit (12) is designed to acquire at least one operating variable of at least one battery cell or of a battery module (10) comprising a given number of battery cells and is connected to a first bus (14). The battery management unit further comprises a control device (18) which is also connected to the first bus (14) and is designed to communicate with at least one of the monitoring units (12) via the first bus (14).