Battery Pack Impedance Switching for Individual Cell Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing the condition of secondary batteries in a battery pack, such as those used in electric vehicles, are limited by the internal configuration of the pack, the number of label elements that can be used, and the type of information obtainable, making it difficult to determine the condition of each battery without disassembly or external configurations, and are not practical for market applications.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design that includes electrical circuit elements and switching sections to switch impedance characteristics, allowing for the assessment of individual secondary batteries by altering the impedance of the entire pack, enabling easy determination of battery conditions through controlled switching of these elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If label elements with different impedance characteristics are added in parallel to secondary batteries, then individual battery assessment becomes possible, but the number of simultaneously usable label elements is limited and the method is restricted to series-connected battery configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into multiple assessable units by connecting electrical circuit element sections (label elements) to individual secondary batteries through switching sections. This segmentation allows independent assessment of each battery's impedance characteristics while maintaining the ability to scale the number of label elements beyond the limitations of parallel-only configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces switching sections that dynamically connect or disconnect electrical circuit element sections from secondary batteries based on assessment needs. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt to different battery arrangements (series, parallel, or combinations) and allows more label elements to be used simultaneously than fixed parallel configurations permit.
2Ease of operation
If impedance characteristic measurement is performed on the entire battery pack, then assessment can be conducted without disassembly, but it is difficult to determine the presence or absence of deteriorated secondary batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces electrical circuit element sections (label elements) as intermediary components connected to individual secondary batteries. These label elements modulate the impedance characteristics of individual batteries, allowing their specific conditions to be distinguished within the overall battery pack measurement without requiring disassembly. The switching sections enable selective activation of these intermediaries for targeted assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the impedance parameter of individual secondary batteries by connecting electrical circuit element sections with specific impedance characteristics. This modification creates distinct impedance signatures for each battery, enabling individual battery conditions to be determined through overall pack measurements while maintaining non-destructive assessment capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If disassembly methods or additional configuration methods are used to measure individual battery characteristics, then detailed battery condition information can be obtained, but these methods are not practical for products distributed on the market
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal assessment system where electrical circuit element sections and switching sections can be integrated into various battery pack configurations without requiring disassembly or specialized handling. The system provides detailed individual battery characteristic measurement while maintaining ease of manufacture and practical applicability to commercially distributed products through standardized integration methods.
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 easy understanding of the conditions of multiple secondary batteries by calculating their impedances individually, improving assessment efficiency and simplifying manufacturing processes while maintaining practicality for market applications.
Implementation Method 1
a switching section that is connected to the electrical circuit element section and the plurality of secondary batteries and is configured to be capable of switching an impedance characteristic of the battery pack as a whole between use of the electrical circuit element section and non-use of the electrical circuit element section
Data Source
AI summary
This battery pack comprises: an electric circuit element part which is for use in assessment of a plurality of secondary batteries and which is disposed so as to be connectable to the plurality of secondary batteries; and a switching part connected to the electric circuit element part and to the plurality of secondary batteries and configured so that the impedance characteristics of the entirety of the battery pack can be switched between when the electric circuit element part is used and when the electric circuit element part is not used.