Battery Pack Authentication via Wired Relay and Near-Field Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the context of electric vehicles and charging systems, there is a risk of incorrect battery pack control due to the lack of proper authentication when multiple vehicles and chargers are within the wireless communication range, leading to potential safety and security issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving near-field communication, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), is used to authenticate power storage packs by transmitting identification information between the electric movable body, charging device, and battery packs, ensuring correct identification and authentication of the mounted battery pack.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used for battery pack authentication, then communication convenience is improved, but authentication accuracy deteriorates due to multiple vehicles/chargers within range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication convenienceVSAvoidauthentication accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wired connection as an intermediary medium between the vehicle and battery pack for authentication. This wired connection acts as a mediator that establishes a direct, exclusive communication channel, eliminating the ambiguity caused by wireless signals from multiple sources. The wired connection ensures that authentication data is transmitted through a dedicated physical link, thereby resolving the authentication accuracy issue while maintaining the convenience of wireless operation during normal use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If battery pack replacement mechanism is implemented, then energy supply time is reduced, but system security deteriorates due to incorrect battery control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy supply timeVSAvoidsystem security
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary authentication actions before allowing battery pack replacement. The system performs wired authentication and exchanges identification information between the vehicle, charging device, and battery pack before the replacement operation is completed. This preliminary verification ensures that the correct battery pack is identified and authorized for replacement, preventing incorrect battery control while enabling rapid battery exchange for reduced energy supply time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If wireless communication range is extended, then communication coverage is improved, but control reliability deteriorates due to interference from adjacent devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidcontrol reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication process into two distinct phases: a wide-range wireless communication phase for initial detection and a narrow-range wired connection phase for definitive authentication. The wireless phase maintains extended coverage for convenience, while the wired phase provides a focused, interference-free communication channel for reliable control. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both extended coverage and high reliability without compromise.

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

This approach enables accurate identification and authentication of battery packs, preventing erroneous control and ensuring the safety and security of the charging system by establishing a correct matching of battery packs with their intended vehicles and charging slots.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting, by a controller of an electric movable body, a signal including identification information identical to identification information retained in a first power storage pack via near-field communication when the first power storage pack is detached from the electric movable body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNear-field communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

transmitting via near-field communication, by the controller of the second power storage pack, a signal including the identification information received from the charging device after the second power storage pack detached from the second charging slot is mounted in the electric movable body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNear-field communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4095975B1Energy storage pack authentication method, energy storage pack, charging device, electric mobile object, and control device for electric mobile object
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4095975B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4095975B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4095975B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric movable body (30) transmits a signal including identification information identical to identification information retained in a first power storage pack (10a) via near-field communication when the first power storage pack (10a) is detached from the electric movable body (30). A charging device (20) wiredly transmits the identification information received from the electric movable body (30) to a second power storage pack (10b). The second power storage pack (10b) transmits via near-field communication a signal including the identification information received from the charging device (20). The electric movable body (30) collates whether or not the identification information included in the received signal matches the identification information retained in the first power storage pack (10a).