Battery Pack Balancing Circuit for Continuous Power Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery devices with multiple battery packs face challenges in balancing voltage differences between packs, which hinders power supply during the balancing process, requiring a solution that allows efficient voltage equalization without interrupting power delivery.

Innovation Solution

A battery device with a processor-controlled switching and balancing circuit system that selectively connects battery packs in parallel, using a resistor for voltage equalization during idle periods, ensuring power supply continuity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If cell balancing is performed to reduce voltage difference between battery cells, then voltage uniformity is improved, but balancing between battery packs is not addressed and power supply is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage uniformityVSAvoidpower supply continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery device is segmented into multiple battery packs, each with independent switching circuits. This allows selective connection and disconnection of individual packs during balancing operations, enabling one pack to be balanced while others continue supplying power to the external device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of voltage differences between battery packs and identifies which packs require balancing before interrupting power supply. By preparing the balancing operation in advance and selecting specific packs for balancing, the system minimizes power supply interruption while maintaining voltage uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If balancing operation is performed between battery packs, then voltage difference between packs is reduced, but power supply to external device is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage equality between packsVSAvoidpower supply availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple battery packs are merged into a parallel configuration where they collectively supply power to the external device. During balancing, the system merges the functionality of remaining packs to maintain power supply while one or more packs undergo balancing, ensuring continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The switching circuits enable dynamic reconfiguration of the battery pack connections. The system can dynamically switch between balancing mode and power supply mode for different packs, allowing flexible adaptation to maintain both voltage equality and continuous power availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If balancing circuit connects battery packs in parallel for voltage equalization, then voltage difference is reduced, but current flow between packs increases energy loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage equalizationVSAvoidenergy loss during balancing
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

A balancing circuit with controllable switching elements acts as an intermediary between battery packs during voltage equalization. The switching circuit controls current flow paths, allowing voltage equalization while minimizing unnecessary current circulation and associated energy losses through precise control of the balancing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables efficient voltage balancing between battery packs during idle periods, allowing uninterrupted power supply to external devices by charging lower voltage packs from higher voltage ones, optimizing energy distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a balancing circuit connected between the positive terminal and the negative terminal, and the balancing circuit is connected in parallel to the first battery pack and the second battery pack when performing the balancing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical current flow: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

since a battery pack having a high voltage may charge a battery pack having a low voltage, balancing may be performed between the battery packs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage difference driving current: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP4379995B1Battery device and balancing method
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4379995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4379995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4379995B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A plurality of positive switches are respectively connected between positive terminals of a plurality of battery packs and a first node, and a plurality of negative switches are respectively connected between negative terminals of the plurality of battery packs and a second node. A first switch is connected between the first node and a positive link terminal and a second switch is connected between the second node and a negative link terminal. A third switch and a resistor are connected in series between the first node and the second node. A processor controls the plurality of positive switches, the plurality of negative switches, the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to perform balancing between at least some of the plurality of battery packs.