Battery Pack Power Dissipation Prediction for Sudden Cutoff Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The maximum power output of a battery pack for a power tool is limited, leading to sudden power supply cutoffs without user awareness, disrupting tool operation.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack with a monitoring circuit and control unit that predicts power dissipation characteristics based on electrical or thermal measurements, initiating user information measures when predefined acceptance conditions are violated, such as visual, acoustic, or haptic warnings, and temporarily reducing output power to prevent limit exceedance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a battery management system shuts off power supply when a critical limit is reached, then the battery pack ensures safe operation by preventing over-discharge or overheating, but the power tool suddenly becomes unusable without user awareness, reducing user comfort and operational continuity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe operationVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary actions by predicting future power dissipation characteristics before critical limits are reached. It calculates predicted values based on current state vectors and consumption patterns, then issues early warnings to the user before shutdown is necessary, allowing the user to take preventive actions (such as reducing power consumption or replacing the battery) while maintaining operational awareness and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the battery pack provides early warnings of impending power limits, then user comfort is enhanced by allowing users to react without interrupting operation, but additional monitoring and prediction functions increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser comfortVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the state vector (current, temperature, voltage) and power consumption, compares actual values with predicted future values, and provides feedback to the user when acceptance conditions are violated. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables early warning functionality while maintaining a relatively simple control structure that leverages existing monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations of future power dissipation characteristics using stored models and current operating data. By predicting future states before critical limits are approached, the system enables early user intervention without requiring complex real-time control algorithms or additional hardware components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the control unit continuously monitors and predicts power dissipation characteristics, then the battery pack can provide early warnings and prevent sudden shutdowns, but additional processing and calculation requirements increase energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs partial monitoring and prediction only when necessary - specifically when acceptance conditions are violated or when the predicted power dissipation characteristic approaches critical limits. The system does not continuously execute full prediction algorithms at maximum precision, but rather adjusts the intensity of monitoring and calculation based on current operating conditions, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3950230B1Battery pack for an electrical tool
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 EINHELL GERMANY AG
  • EP3950230B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3950230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack (2) for a power tool (1) comprises at least one battery cell (3) and a monitoring circuit (4) configured to determine an electrical or thermal measurement of the battery pack (2). The battery pack (2) comprises a control unit (5) configured to determine a power dissipation characteristic of the battery pack (2) depending on the electrical or thermal measurement, to predict a future power dissipation characteristic of the battery pack (2) depending on the determined power dissipation characteristic, to check at least one predefined acceptance condition depending on the predicted power dissipation characteristic, and to initiate a user information measure depending on the result of the check.