Battery Module Address Contacts for Flexible EV Pack Addressing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery module addressing methods in electric vehicles are inflexible, requiring manual intervention for errors, lengthy startup times in dynamic addressing, and software complexity, and are not adaptable to changes in high-voltage topology.

Innovation Solution

A battery module with a battery management controller interface having at least two address contacts that detects and assigns an address based on contact assignments, using a modular and expandable cable harness with connectors for unambiguous identification, and a central control unit for managing communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If static addressing method is used, then addressing is simple and reliable, but system cannot recover from errors and requires manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddressing reliabilityVSAvoiderror handling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic addressing where battery module addresses are automatically assigned based on their position in the daisy-chain connection. The addressing changes dynamically based on system configuration rather than being fixed, allowing the system to adapt to different topologies and recover from errors automatically without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-addressing where each battery module automatically determines its own address based on connection detection. The control unit detects which modules are connected and assigns addresses automatically, eliminating the need for manual address configuration and enabling automatic error recovery when modules are added or removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic addressing method is used, then system is flexible and adaptable, but startup time increases and software complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetopology adaptabilityVSAvoidstartup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary address assignment during the connection establishment phase. When battery modules are connected in a daisy-chain, the control unit detects connections and assigns addresses in real-time during system initialization, so that addressing is already determined before full system operation begins, minimizing startup delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The addressing system is segmented into hierarchical levels (battery system level, module level, cell level), allowing independent configuration at each level. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation to different topologies while keeping the addressing logic modular and computationally efficient, reducing software complexity and startup time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic addressing method is used, then system is flexible, but address analysis becomes difficult due to changing addresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetopology adaptabilityVSAvoidaddress traceability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where each battery module reports its assigned address and status back to the control unit. The control unit maintains a registry of module addresses and can trace address assignments throughout system operation, enabling easy analysis and monitoring despite dynamic addressing changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates and maintains a virtual copy or map of the physical battery system topology in the control unit's memory. This digital representation mirrors the actual module connections and address assignments, allowing easy analysis, monitoring, and troubleshooting without directly tracking physical address changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Device complexity

If prior addressing concepts are used, then addressing is simple, but system is inflexible to topology changes requiring source code or hardware adaptation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddressing complexityVSAvoidtopology flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal addressing framework that can accommodate multiple high-voltage topologies (series, parallel, hybrid configurations) using the same basic addressing mechanism. The system detects the actual topology and adapts the addressing scheme accordingly, eliminating the need for separate hardware or source code configurations for different topologies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12531282B2Battery module for constructing a battery system for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 WEBASTO AG

AI summary

A battery module for constructing a battery system for a vehicle includes at least one battery cell and a battery management controller (BMC) with a battery management controller interface (BMCS). The battery management controller interface (BMCS) has at least two address contacts for allocating an address to the battery module, and the battery management controller (BMC) is designed and configured to detect the assignment of the address contacts and derive therefrom an address for the battery module.