Battery Module Identifier Assignment on a Serial Bus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery management systems face challenges in efficiently managing identifiers for multiple slave controllers, leading to reduced productivity during assembly or replacement, as pre-stored identifiers limit flexibility and require specific replacement of slave controllers.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a module battery management unit connected to a master unit through a serial communication bus, where identifiers are randomly selected and assigned as temporary, then checked for uniqueness before being finalized, allowing for dynamic assignment without overlapping with other units, thereby enabling efficient identifier management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pre-stored identifiers are assigned to slave controllers, then identifier management is simplified, but productivity decreases during assembly or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic identifier assignment where slave controllers randomly select identifiers from an available pool during system initialization rather than using fixed pre-stored identifiers. This dynamic approach allows any slave controller to be replaced without requiring specific identifier matching, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified management and reduced productivity during replacement operations
Solution Approach 2:
Slave controllers autonomously select their own identifiers from the assignable identifier pool received from the master controller, eliminating the need for manual identifier assignment or pre-configured identifiers. This self-service mechanism improves productivity during assembly by allowing any controller to be freely replaced without identifier constraints
2Productivity
If identifiers are randomly selected and assigned temporarily, then flexibility and productivity are improved, but identifier collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master controller broadcasts assigned identifiers to all slave controllers, which then compare their randomly selected identifiers against the broadcasted list. This feedback mechanism ensures that any identifier collisions are immediately detected and resolved, maintaining reliability while preserving the productivity benefits of random assignment
Solution Approach 2:
Slave controllers perform preliminary checks of their randomly selected identifiers against identifiers already assigned to other slaves before finalizing their identifier selection. This preliminary action prevents collisions from occurring in the first place, ensuring both flexibility and reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If slave controllers transmit identifiers through serial communication, then communication flexibility is improved, but communication overhead and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines identifier transmission with existing system initialization and status reporting communication channels. Slave controllers transmit their assigned identifiers using the same serial communication infrastructure already established for battery monitoring and control, eliminating the need for separate dedicated identifier communication channels and thereby reducing time loss while maintaining flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a module battery management unit includes randomly selecting one number from among assignable identification numbers in response to an identifier assignment command, assigning the selected number as a temporary identifier, transmitting a first message including the temporary identifier in response to an identifier transmission command , receiving messages transmitted by the other module battery management unit in response to the identifier transmission command, and checking identifiers of the other module battery management unit from the messages, comparing the temporary identifier with identifiers of the other module battery management unit in response to an identifier comparison command , assigning the temporary identifier as a final identifier if the temporary identifier does not overlap with identifiers of the other module battery management unit, and transmitting a second message including the final identifier to the serial communication bus in response to an identifier check command.