Battery Model-Based Micro-Short Detection During Charge and Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery short circuit detection methods struggle to accurately identify micro-short circuits, which cause thermal runaway and deteriorate battery efficiency, especially during battery operation, due to small changes in current, voltage, and temperature, making it difficult to distinguish from other operational changes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a battery model to estimate resistance error parameters by comparing measured and estimated voltage and current values, analyzing sub-parameters such as average resistance errors and rate of change during charging and discharging, to detect battery short circuits using resistance error parameters and threshold values, enabling early detection and remediation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional short circuit detection methods are used (monitoring current, voltage, temperature changes), then the detection system is simple to implement, but the detection accuracy is insufficient for micro-short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicro-short circuit detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electric circuit model as an intermediary to represent the battery's internal characteristics. This model includes parameters like internal resistance and open-circuit voltage that serve as mediators to indirectly detect micro-short circuits. Instead of directly measuring the tiny short circuit current, the system measures easily obtainable parameters (terminal voltage, current) and uses the circuit model to infer the presence of micro-shorts through parameter deviations, thus achieving high detection accuracy without complex direct measurement equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct physical measurement of short circuit effects (current, voltage, temperature changes) with a mathematical modeling approach. Instead of using complex measurement systems to directly detect the physical manifestations of micro-shorts, the system substitutes these physical measurements with electrical parameter measurements and mathematical calculations based on the circuit model, achieving more accurate detection with simpler measurement equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If detection threshold is set to be sensitive to micro-short circuits, then detection accuracy improves, but false positive rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort circuit detection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse positive rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the electric circuit model continuously updates its parameters based on measured data. The system measures terminal voltage and current, calculates model parameters (internal resistance, open-circuit voltage), and compares these with reference values. When deviations exceed thresholds, the system can trigger further verification or protective actions. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to battery state changes while maintaining reliable detection, reducing false positives by distinguishing normal variations from actual micro-short conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent monitors changes in electric circuit model parameters (internal resistance, open-circuit voltage) rather than relying on fixed thresholds of raw measurements. By tracking parameter deviations and their rates of change, the system can distinguish between normal battery operation variations and actual micro-short conditions. This parameter-based approach with dynamic thresholding improves reliability by reducing false positives while maintaining sensitivity to real micro-short circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4293373B1Method and apparatus with battery short detection
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4293373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4293373B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4293373B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses with battery short circuit detection are provided. A short circuit detecting method includes determining measurement data by measuring a battery for a target timespan including a battery charging timespan or a battery discharging timespan, determining estimation data of the battery for the target timespan using a battery model that simulates the battery to determine the estimation data, determining a resistance error parameter of the battery based on the measurement data and the estimation data, and determining that a battery short circuit condition is satisfied based on a result of comparing the resistance error parameter and a short circuit threshold value.