Battery Overcharge Prevention via Voltage Sensing and Relay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery overcharge prevention devices rely on mechanical swelling phenomena, which are unreliable and require additional space on the battery surface, leading to potential malfunctions and decreased mechanical reliability.

Innovation Solution

A battery overcharge preventing device using a passive element that senses overcharge through voltage division and employs a shunt regulator and latching relay to cut off power, independent of the battery management system, minimizing external interference and ensuring stable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a mechanical switch is used to sense battery overcharge through swelling phenomenon, then the device can detect overcharge condition, but the mechanical reliability decreases and additional space is required on the battery surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveovercharge sensing accuracyVSAvoidmechanical reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical switch-based swelling detection system with an electrical voltage detection system. The overcharge prevention device uses a voltage sensor to detect the voltage of the battery cell, and a controller processes this electrical signal to determine overcharge conditions, eliminating mechanical components entirely and improving reliability while maintaining detection accuracy.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a voltage sensor as an intermediary element that indirectly measures the battery's charge state through voltage rather than directly detecting physical swelling. This intermediary measurement approach provides more reliable data without requiring mechanical contact or space on the battery surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a mechanical switch is positioned on the side surface of the battery cell to sense swelling, then overcharge can be detected, but additional space is required and the configuration becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswelling detection capabilityVSAvoidswitch positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for mechanical switches positioned on the battery surface by substituting them with voltage sensors that can be integrated into the existing battery management system's electrical circuitry. This reduces device complexity and removes the need for additional space on the battery surface.

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

3Extent of automation

If the battery management system controls the power cut-off, then the system can manage battery operation, but the response time may be delayed due to system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery management controlVSAvoidpower cut-off response speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dedicated overcharge prevention device that is pre-configured and independent from the main battery management system. This device continuously monitors voltage and can immediately cut off power through a relay when overcharge is detected, without waiting for the main BMS to process and respond, thereby achieving faster response time while maintaining automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the battery protection function into a separate, independent overcharge prevention device rather than relying solely on the integrated battery management system. This segmentation allows the overcharge protection to operate autonomously with faster response time while the BMS handles other management functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively prevents ignition or explosion by accurately cutting off power during overcharge, improving precision and reliability while reducing size, cost, and weight, and minimizing power consumption and noise interference.

Implementation Method 1

a voltage sensor to detect the voltage of the battery cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage sensing: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

a relay to cut off power supplied to the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP3026772B1Battery overcharge preventing device
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 SK INNOVATION CO LTD
  • EP3026772B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3026772B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3026772B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a battery overcharge preventing device. The battery overcharge preventing device may sense an over-voltage using a voltage of a battery cell as input power of a passive element and cut off power supplied to a battery at the time of overcharge of the battery.