Battery Sleep Mode Management for Energy Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional battery systems lack effective management and monitoring capabilities, particularly in determining the state of charge and preventing over-discharge, over-voltage, and overheating, which can lead to battery damage and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A battery management system that includes sensors and processing circuitry to monitor voltage, temperature, and current, and performs cell balancing, while also allowing for a sleep mode to protect the battery from adverse conditions, and a state of charge indicator that interfaces with the battery and charger to facilitate charging and monitoring without direct access to the battery terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery management system continuously monitors voltage, temperature, and current to prevent over-discharge, over-voltage, and overheating, then battery safety and reliability are improved, but energy consumption increases and the system requires more complex circuitry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessments of battery conditions and transitions to sleep mode when no adverse conditions are detected, preventing continuous monitoring energy consumption while maintaining safety. The monitoring is reactivated only when conditions warrant attention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system dynamically adjusts its operation between active monitoring and sleep modes based on real-time battery conditions. This dynamic switching allows the system to maintain high reliability when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the battery management system enters sleep mode to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to detect and respond to adverse conditions is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddetection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring during sleep mode, where the controller periodically wakes up to check battery conditions and then returns to sleep mode. This periodic action maintains detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The battery management system monitors its own state and autonomously transitions between active and sleep modes based on detected conditions, eliminating the need for external intervention while maintaining safety and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If lead cables are connected to battery terminals for charging, then charging functionality is achieved, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging convenienceVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A wireless communication intermediary is introduced between the charging device and battery management system, enabling automatic authentication, negotiation, and control of the charging process without physical cable connections. This intermediary facilitates seamless energy transfer while eliminating manual connection steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Duration of action of stationary object

If the battery management system implements comprehensive monitoring and cell balancing, then battery lifespan is extended, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifespanVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and monitors only the critical parameters necessary for battery health (voltage, temperature, current) rather than comprehensively monitoring all possible parameters. This selective extraction maintains lifespan extension while reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple monitoring functions (voltage monitoring, temperature monitoring, current monitoring, and cell balancing) are merged into a single integrated battery management controller, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive battery protection and lifespan extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3137916B1Battery sleep mode management method
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP3137916B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3137916B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3137916B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for managing a battery module includes receiving data relating to one or more operational parameters of the battery module. The method also includes determining whether a first operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters violates a first threshold. Additionally, the method includes transitioning the battery module from an operational mode to a sleep mode in response to a determination that the first operational parameter violates the first threshold.