Battery Pack Cell Replacement Detection After BMS Wake-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-genuine battery cells are being installed in battery packs, which can lead to overheating, explosion risks, and unstable power supply due to incomplete stabilization circuits, and existing authentication methods fail to detect such replacements.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell replacement detection apparatus and method using a processor to obtain and compare cell data from a battery management system with stored data to determine if a battery cell has been replaced, entering a permanent fault mode if replacement is detected, and employing methods like calculating expected charging capacity, detecting SOC overflow, and comparing OCV values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authentication function is introduced via communication, then genuine batteries can be identified, but battery cell replacement cannot be detected when battery pack is in shutdown state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing baseline cell data (voltage, temperature, capacity) in the memory before the battery pack is shutdown or modified. When the battery wakes up from shutdown, the processor compares current cell data with the stored baseline data to detect any replacements. This pre-stored reference data enables detection capability that would otherwise be unavailable after shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a memory component that stores cell data as a reference intermediary between the BMS and the processor. This memory acts as a mediator that preserves historical cell characteristics, allowing the processor to compare past and present cell states even after shutdown periods, thereby enabling detection of cell replacements that simple authentication cannot detect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery cell is replaced to pass authentication, then non-genuine batteries can be used, but safety risks of overheating and explosion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring cell parameters (voltage, temperature, charging capacity) and comparing them against stored baseline data and expected ranges. When deviations indicate cell replacement, the system provides feedback by entering permanent fault mode to prevent use of replaced cells. This closed-loop feedback mechanism detects and prevents the use of non-genuine batteries that would otherwise pass initial authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting cell replacements through comparison of cell data before safety incidents can occur. The system preemptively identifies replaced cells by analyzing charging capacity, voltage patterns, and temperature characteristics, then prevents their use by entering fault mode. This preliminary detection and prevention approach counteracts the safety risks before overheating or explosion can happen.
3Reliability
If BMS cannot detect cell replacement after wake-up, then product malfunction risk increases, but adding detection complexity increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the existing processor and memory components perform multiple functions: they not only manage normal battery operations but also store baseline cell data and perform replacement detection comparisons. The existing BMS infrastructure is leveraged for dual purposes - both power management and cell authentication/detection - avoiding the need for separate dedicated detection hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a battery cell replacement detection apparatus and method, and is directed to presenting a mechanism that permanently prevents a battery pack from being used by determining, through cell data retained by a battery management system (BMS) after the battery pack wakes up, that a battery cell has been replaced. To this end, the present disclosure provides a configuration that obtains the cell data related to charging of the battery from the BMS, and determines whether the battery cell has been replaced by comparing the cell data with data stored in a memory.