Battery Pack Optical Communication Using Undirected OLED Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wired battery management systems face issues of inflexibility in pack design, wasted space due to connectors and cabling, and vulnerability to interference and cyber-attacks in wireless technologies, particularly those using line-of-sight optical communications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a battery management system that uses undirected optical signals transmitted via Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) to encode and transmit battery sensor data, allowing for non-line-of-sight communication between module monitoring systems and a data aggregator, which is protected from interference and attacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired battery management system is used, then reliability of data transmission is improved, but device complexity and space usage increase due to connectors and cabling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with an optical communication system using OLEDs and photodetectors. This substitution eliminates physical connectors and cabling while maintaining secure and reliable data transmission, thereby reducing device complexity and space requirements without compromising transmission reliability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical signals as an intermediary medium for data transmission between module monitoring systems and the central controller. This optical intermediary replaces direct electrical connections, enabling wireless communication while maintaining data integrity and security, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If wireless optical communication is used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to line-of-sight requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from directional line-of-sight optical communication to undirected omnidirectional optical emission. By changing the spatial dimension of light propagation from a focused beam to omnidirectional radiation, the system eliminates line-of-sight constraints while maintaining communication reliability, allowing the battery management system to achieve both reduced complexity and reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If conventional optical communication is used, then space usage is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates due to line-of-sight constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepack spaceVSAvoidpack design flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability in battery pack design by using undirected optical communication that does not require fixed line-of-sight paths. This allows flexible arrangement of battery modules and components within the pack, enabling adaptive design configurations while maintaining efficient space utilization and reliable data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances flexibility in battery pack design, reduces space usage, and provides secure data transmission by utilizing undirected optical signals that are resistant to interference and attacks, improving overall system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The optical signal may be transmitted using an undirected (e.g., non-line-of-sight) light transmitter such as an Organic Light Emitting Diode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrganic Light Emitting Diode: Organic Light-emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP4091268B1Optical communications in a battery pack
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 LITHIUM BALANCE A S
  • EP4091268B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4091268B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4091268B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a particular embodiment, optical communications in a battery pack is disclosed that includes generating, by a module monitoring system of a battery management system, sensor data; encoding, by the module monitoring system, the sensor data into an optical signal; sending, by the module monitoring system, to a data aggregator, the sensor data as the optical signal; and decoding, by the data aggregator, the optical signal into the sensor data.