Battery System With Segmented Parallel Switching For Capacity Utilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery systems face challenges in utilizing the capacity of batteries in different deterioration states, leading to inefficient charging and discharging, as fully charged or fully discharged batteries must be disconnected to prevent power supply to the load during disconnection, resulting in reduced system efficiency and increased storage needs.

Innovation Solution

A battery system with a control unit and switching units that allow for the connection and disconnection of batteries in series, enabling continuous power supply to the load by isolating fully charged or fully discharged batteries using a combination of series and parallel switches, allowing for sequential charging and discharging of batteries in varying states of deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If batteries in different deterioration states are mixed and connected in series, then the battery capacity can be fully utilized, but power supply to the load stops when a battery is fully charged or discharged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacity utilizationVSAvoidpower supply continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into multiple parallel groups, where each group contains batteries connected in series. This segmentation allows independent management of each group, enabling the system to maintain power supply continuity while utilizing batteries in different deterioration states. When one group's battery is fully charged or discharged, other groups can continue operating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple battery groups are merged in parallel configuration to create a hybrid system that combines batteries of different capacities and deterioration states. This merging allows the system to aggregate total capacity while maintaining operational flexibility through selective group activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If batteries are disconnected when fully charged or discharged, then battery damage is prevented, but power supply to the load is interrupted during disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidpower supply duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-charging or pre-discharging alternative battery groups before a battery needs disconnection. This ensures that when a battery reaches full charge or discharge, another group is already prepared to take over, preventing power supply interruption while still protecting the battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The parallel group structure enables continuous useful action by ensuring that while one group is being disconnected for battery protection, another group is already active or can be quickly activated. This maintains uninterrupted power supply to the load throughout the battery management process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of manufacture

If batteries with the same deterioration state are selected, then product standardization is achieved, but large storage facilities are needed for sorting and pooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct standardizationVSAvoidstorage facility size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of battery selection from requiring identical deterioration states to accepting batteries with different capacities and deterioration levels. This parameter change eliminates the need for extensive sorting and pooling operations, reducing storage facility requirements while maintaining system functionality through intelligent group management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3598605B1Battery system
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP3598605B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3598605B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3598605B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery system includes a battery circuit group in which a plurality of battery circuits, each including a plurality of battery units including a battery and a switching unit connected in series, are connected in parallel, and a control unit that controls the switching unit. The switching unit switches a state of the battery unit between a first state, in which the battery is connected between a positive electrode end and a negative electrode end of the battery unit, and a second state, in which the positive electrode end and the negative electrode end are connected without the battery. When discharging, the control unit controls the switching unit such that the state of the battery unit including the battery determined to be not fully discharged becomes the first state, and the state of the battery unit including the battery determined to be fully discharged becomes the second state.