Battery SOC Threshold Control for Capacity and Health Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery health is adversely affected by extreme charging and discharging states, leading to reduced longevity, and there is a need for a method to manage State of Charge (SOC) to optimize battery health and usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and controller to control SOC within a predetermined battery protection range defined by first and second thresholds, with configurable capacity, allowing updates without hardware changes, and managing charge and discharge currents to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the battery is charged to 100% SOC or discharged to 0% SOC to maximize available capacity, then the usable battery capacity is increased, but the long-term battery health is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the SOC thresholds based on battery age and usage patterns. The controller modifies the charge and discharge cutoff points from fixed extreme values (0% and 100%) to variable values that protect battery health while maintaining adequate usable capacity. This resolves the contradiction by changing the operational parameters adaptively rather than using static extremes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the SOC thresholds dynamic rather than static. The charge and discharge thresholds are continuously adjusted based on battery state, age, and usage patterns. This allows the system to optimize between usable capacity and battery health in real-time, preventing the battery from consistently operating at extreme SOC levels that would degrade health while still providing sufficient usable capacity.
2Reliability
If the battery protection charge range is restricted to prevent extreme SOC levels, then the battery health is improved, but the available battery capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the protection range dynamic. Rather than applying a fixed restriction that permanently reduces available capacity, the system adjusts the protection range adaptively based on battery age, usage patterns, and state. This allows the available capacity to be maximized when the battery is healthy while providing increased protection as the battery ages, thus resolving the contradiction between health protection and capacity availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively managing SOC thresholds before significant battery degradation occurs. The system preemptively adjusts charge and discharge limits to prevent harmful extreme SOC conditions, rather than reacting after damage has occurred. This preliminary protection maintains battery health while preserving maximum usable capacity over the long term.
3Device complexity
If fixed SOC thresholds are used to protect battery health, then the control system is simple, but the system cannot adapt to changing usage patterns or battery aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming fixed SOC thresholds into dynamic, adaptive thresholds. The controller continuously monitors battery state, age, and usage patterns, and adjusts the charge and discharge thresholds accordingly. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple control logic while achieving high adaptability to changing conditions and battery aging, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors battery state, charge/discharge patterns, and age, then uses this information to adjust SOC thresholds. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to changing usage patterns and battery degradation without requiring complex manual reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between simple control and high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a state of charge (SOC) of a battery is provided. The method comprises defining a first SOC threshold of the battery, the first SOC threshold being greater than zero and defining a second SOC threshold of the battery, the second SOC threshold being less than a highest charge capacity of the battery. The first and second SOC thresholds define a battery protection charge range of the battery based on a predetermined battery protection charge range associated with the battery. The method also comprises setting a first configurable SOC threshold of the battery, the first configurable SOC threshold being at least the first SOC threshold; and setting a second configurable SOC threshold of the battery, the second configurable SOC threshold being no greater than the second SOC threshold and greater than the first configurable SOC threshold. A range between the first and second configurable SOC thresholds is defined by a configurable capacity associated with the battery. During charging and/or discharging of the battery, the SOC of the battery is controlled based on the first and second configurable SOC thresholds. The configurable capacity of the battery and the first and second configurable SOC thresholds are updatable upon receiving an update to the configurable capacity of the battery.