Battery State Counters for Uncertain EV Capacity Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for managing battery capacity in electric vehicles do not account for uncertainty and reliability, leading to disproportionate or insufficient safety measures that can compromise driver and passenger safety.

Innovation Solution

A method that includes a battery diagnostic step to determine the battery's ability to meet predetermined electrical demands, incrementing counters based on failure or uncertainty, and issuing alerts when thresholds are exceeded, allowing for differentiated alert levels and appropriate actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery capacity monitoring is performed without considering uncertainty, then the monitoring process is simple, but the reliability of safety measures is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of safety measuresVSAvoidcomplexity of monitoring process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery state is segmented into three distinct categories: sufficient capacity, insufficient capacity, and uncertain state. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between definitive failures and ambiguous states, enabling more nuanced and reliable safety measures while maintaining a manageable monitoring framework through categorical division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary diagnostic actions during vehicle operation to assess battery capacity before critical failures occur. By proactively monitoring and identifying uncertain states early, the system can prepare appropriate safety measures in advance, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time decision-making during emergencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If uniform safety measures are applied to all battery failures, then the implementation is simple, but the appropriateness of measures is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveappropriateness of safety measuresVSAvoidcomplexity of alert management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different safety measures and alert levels are applied based on the local quality of the battery state. Definitive failures trigger specific safety protocols, while uncertain states trigger different, potentially less intrusive measures. This localized approach ensures each battery condition receives the most appropriate response rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The safety measures are dynamic and can change based on the battery state classification. The system can transition between different alert levels and safety protocols as the battery state evolves from uncertain to definitive failure or vice versa, allowing adaptability while maintaining clear transition rules that prevent excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If battery diagnostics are performed frequently, then the reliability of battery state assessment is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of battery state assessmentVSAvoidenergy consumption of diagnostics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Battery diagnostics are performed periodically during vehicle operation rather than continuously. The system schedules diagnostic checks at appropriate intervals, balancing the need for reliable battery state assessment with energy conservation. This periodic approach ensures sufficient monitoring reliability while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from frequent testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4251465B1Method using a battery state counter
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4251465B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4251465B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4251465B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for controlling a battery executing: - a step (E0, E1, E2, E3) of diagnosing the battery, after the vehicle has started and for each time the vehicle is driven, this diagnosis giving one state out of three possible states (Z1, Z2, Z3) of the battery: - the battery is capable of responding to a predetermined electrical demand (Z3), or - the battery is not capable of responding to this predetermined electrical demand (Z1) or - there is still uncertainty with regard to responding to this predetermined electrical demand (Z2), and following the diagnosis step, the method executes a fifth step (E4) consisting in incrementing a first counter (C1) by a value of 1 if the battery is not capable of responding to this predetermined electrical demand (Z1), or in incrementing a second counter (C2) by a value of 1 if there is still uncertainty with regard to responding to this predetermined electrical demand (Z2).