Battery Module Switch Circuit for Residual Capacity Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery modules connected in parallel or series for electric cars or hybrid cars experience variations in residual capacity, leading to potential overcharge and accelerated degradation, necessitating a method to level capacity without causing unnecessary capacity loss or requiring additional mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with an external power supply terminal, a monitoring circuit, and a switch circuit that selectively uses power from either the external supply or the battery cell to operate the monitoring circuit, allowing for capacity leveling without capacity loss, with a controller managing the switching signal to balance residual capacity across multiple modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal discharge mechanism is added to level battery residual capacity, then battery residual capacity can be leveled, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a switch circuit as an intermediary component that selectively connects the monitoring circuit to either the battery cell or external power supply terminal. This switch circuit enables capacity leveling by allowing external power supply to operate the monitoring circuit when battery residual capacity is low, eliminating the need for complex internal discharge mechanisms while achieving the same reliability goal.
2Reliability
If internal discharge mechanism is added to level battery residual capacity, then battery residual capacity can be leveled, but loss of energy occurs due to unnecessary capacity loss and heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The switch circuit acts as a mediator that redirects power flow to avoid energy loss. When the battery residual capacity is low, the switch circuit connects the monitoring circuit to the external power supply terminal instead of drawing power from the battery cell, thereby preventing unnecessary capacity loss and heat generation while still enabling monitoring and leveling functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power source parameter for the monitoring circuit based on the battery's residual capacity state. By dynamically switching between internal battery power and external power supply, the system optimizes energy utilization and avoids the energy losses associated with internal discharge mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If monitoring circuit operates using battery cell power, then self-contained operation is achieved, but battery residual capacity is reduced due to power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power source for the monitoring circuit based on real-time battery residual capacity conditions. The switch circuit enables the monitoring circuit to operate from the battery cell when capacity is sufficient, maintaining self-contained operation, and switches to external power supply when capacity is low, preventing unnecessary energy consumption while preserving operational autonomy.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a battery module that includes an external power supply terminal, a battery cell, a monitoring circuit that monitors a state of the battery cell, and a switch circuit that supplies one of an electric power supplied from the external power supply terminal and an electric power supplied from the battery cell to the monitoring circuit based on a switching signal.