Vehicle Battery Power Profile Control for Flexible Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery control systems in hybrid and electric vehicles lack flexibility in determining the power capacity, as they only provide information on peak current, which is insufficient for extended power discharge requirements, limiting their ability to accurately assess and manage battery capabilities for complex power profiles.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allows for the communication of a battery's power capacity by receiving a power profile request, determining compliance, and providing a response indicating whether the battery can meet the requested profile, with the option to suggest alternative profiles if necessary, enabling more efficient and flexible power management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional peak current estimation methods are used, then the battery system provides a simple maximum available power indication, but the system lacks flexibility for extended power discharge requirements and complex power profiles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in power managementVSAvoidcomplexity of power capacity assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter being communicated from a single peak current value to a power capacity value derived from impedance measurements. This allows the battery control unit to provide comprehensive power capability information (including sustained power delivery) without increasing system complexity, as the impedance-based calculation methodology is applied to an existing measurement approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary calculation step where impedance measurements are used to determine power capacity, which then serves as the basis for communication to the vehicle control unit. This intermediary power capacity parameter bridges the gap between simple peak current measurements and the complex power profile requirements, enabling flexible power management without direct complex profile analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the battery control system communicates detailed power capacity information, then the vehicle system can optimize power usage, but the communication protocol and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of power utilizationVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential power capacity information from complex power profile analysis and communicates this single derived parameter to the vehicle control unit. This extraction approach enables the vehicle system to optimize power usage based on accurate battery capabilities without requiring the battery control system to handle complex communication protocols or process detailed power profiles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery control unit autonomously performs impedance measurements and calculates power capacity based on its own operational data. This self-service approach provides accurate power capacity information for optimizing power utilization without increasing overall system complexity, as the calculations are performed independently within the battery control unit using existing measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3548328B1A method and system for controlling a battery in a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP3548328B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3548328B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3548328B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6c

AI summary

The invention relates to a method which comprises communicating a power capacity of a battery of a vehicle in a system comprising a battery and a battery control unit for controlling said battery. The method further comprises, in the battery control unit, receiving a request comprising a power profile describing a power transfer to or from the battery as a function of time, determining if the battery is capable of receiving or providing power corresponding to the requested power profile.