Battery Module Verification for Safe Charge-Discharge Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery systems face safety issues due to the mixing of battery modules with different specifications or the inclusion of defective cells, which can lead to unsafe charge/discharge processes.

Innovation Solution

A battery system with a controller that identifies module specifications and detects defective cells by obtaining and comparing module identification, specification, and test result information from an external server, restricting charge/discharge operations if discrepancies are found.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If battery modules with different specifications are mixed in a battery pack, then the battery system can accommodate more varied modules and potentially increase flexibility, but safety issues arise during charge/discharge processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in module accommodationVSAvoidsafety during charge/discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of battery module specifications before allowing charge/discharge operations. The controller checks module information including capacity, voltage, and serial numbers against predetermined criteria, and only permits operation if all modules meet the specified requirements, thereby preventing safety issues before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively prevents unsafe operations by blocking charge/discharge when mixed specifications are detected. The controller actively restricts battery pack operation when modules with different specifications are identified, countering potential safety hazards before they can manifest during charging or discharging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If battery modules containing defective cells are used, then the battery system can maintain higher productivity and avoid downtime, but safety issues and potential failures occur during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidsafety during operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary inspection of battery modules by verifying module information including capacity, voltage, and serial numbers against stored data before allowing charge/discharge operations. This advance verification identifies defective modules and prevents them from being used, ensuring safety while maintaining productivity by only allowing verified good modules to operate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors battery module status during operation and provides feedback to the controller. When defective modules are detected through ongoing verification of module information, the system adjusts operation or blocks charge/discharge to maintain safety, while providing information about module status for productivity management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a verification system for battery module specifications is implemented, then safety during charge/discharge is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional controllers and communication protocols

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during charge/dischargeVSAvoidcontroller and communication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification system uses an external server as an intermediary to store and manage predetermined module information. The server receives module information from the controller, performs verification against stored data, and returns verification results. This intermediary approach simplifies the on-board system complexity by offloading storage and complex verification logic to the external server, while maintaining comprehensive safety verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores copies of predetermined module information (capacity, voltage, serial numbers) in the external server and uses these copies for verification. Instead of maintaining complex verification algorithms locally, the system retrieves and compares module data against stored reference copies, reducing on-board computational complexity while ensuring accurate verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250015602A1Battery system and charge/discharge control method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A battery system including: a plurality of battery modules electrically connected to each other, each of the plurality of battery modules including a memory; and a first controller to: obtain module identification information for each of the plurality of battery modules from the memory of each of the plurality of battery modules; receive battery module information including specification information for each of the plurality of battery modules from an external server based on the module identification information; and restrict charge/discharge of the plurality of battery modules according to the battery module information.