Flexible Vehicle Battery Reconfiguration for Series-Parallel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems in new vehicle designs, such as battery-powered multicopters, face challenges in efficiently managing power distribution and battery configurations to enhance flight performance, charging efficiency, and safety, particularly when motors have varying power demands and battery failures occur.
Innovation Solution
A flexible battery system that allows batteries to be configured in parallel or series configurations based on vehicle states and conditions, using configurable electrical connectors to optimize power distribution, improve flight performance, and isolate failing batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If batteries are connected in series configuration, then charging efficiency is improved, but power availability for high-power motors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic battery configuration system where batteries can be switched between series and parallel connections based on operational requirements. A controller manages switching mechanisms (such as relays or solid-state switches) to reconfigure the battery connections in real-time, allowing the system to optimize for charging efficiency during charging operations and power availability during high-power motor operations.
2Power
If batteries are connected in parallel configuration, then power availability for motors is improved, but charging efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically reconfigures battery connections from parallel to series mode when charging is required. The controller detects charging conditions and actuates switching mechanisms to reconfigure the battery array, enabling efficient charging while maintaining the ability to provide high power when needed for motor operation.
3Device complexity
If fixed battery configuration is used, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different vehicle states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic reconfiguration system that allows the battery array to adapt its configuration based on vehicle operational states such as charging, flight, or hover modes. The controller monitors vehicle state and automatically reconfigures battery connections to optimize performance for the current operational requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is designed to perform multiple functions through reconfiguration: it can operate in series mode for efficient charging, in parallel mode for high-power motor operation, and in various intermediate configurations for different flight phases. This multi-functionality allows a single battery array to serve diverse operational requirements.
4Device complexity
If all batteries remain connected during failure, then system simplicity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically reconfigures battery connections to isolate failed batteries from the operational battery array. When a battery failure is detected, the controller actuates switching mechanisms to electrically disconnect the failed battery, preventing it from affecting the performance or safety of the remaining functional batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is segmented into independently controllable units with individual connection paths to the motor controller. This segmentation allows selective isolation of failed batteries while maintaining operational independence of healthy batteries, enhancing system reliability through modular fault containment.
Data Source
AI summary
A configuration instruction associated with configuring a plurality of batteries which supply power to a plurality of motors in a vehicle is received. The batteries are configuring as specified by the configuration instruction, where the batteries are able to be configured in a plurality of configurations, including: a first configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in parallel and a second configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in series.