Battery Subpack RF Monitoring With Selective Contactor Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle battery packs have a large number of cables and lack individual battery subpack decoupling mechanisms, leading to increased weight and space requirements, as well as inefficient power management during degraded operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing RF transmitters and receivers for communication between cell monitoring circuits and subpack microprocessors, along with subpack contactors to decouple individual battery subpacks, reducing cable usage and enabling selective power disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cables are used to connect cell monitoring circuits to subpack microprocessors, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but battery pack weight and space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with an RF (radio frequency) wireless communication system. The cell monitoring circuit communicates with the subpack microprocessor via RF signals, eliminating the need for physical cables and thereby reducing battery pack weight while maintaining reliable data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RF signals as an intermediary medium to transfer data between the cell monitoring circuit and subpack microprocessor. This intermediary wireless communication method replaces direct cable connections, reducing weight and space requirements while ensuring reliable electrical connection functionality.
2Productivity
If individual battery subpack contactors are added to enable selective decoupling, then power management efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into multiple independent subpacks, each equipped with its own contactor. This segmentation allows individual subpacks to be decoupled from the system when degraded operation occurs in a specific subpack, improving power management efficiency by isolating only the affected portion rather than shutting down the entire battery pack.
Solution Approach 2:
Each battery subpack is equipped with its own contactor that can be independently controlled based on the operational status of that specific subpack. This self-service capability allows the system to automatically manage power distribution and isolation at the subpack level, improving efficiency without requiring complex centralized control for each individual component.
3Reliability
If a large number of cables are used to connect numerous batteries, then complete electrical connectivity is achieved, but battery pack housing size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable network with RF wireless communication infrastructure. By eliminating physical cables between cell monitoring circuits and subpack microprocessors, the system achieves complete electrical connectivity through wireless means, thereby reducing the space required for cable routing and decreasing overall battery pack housing area.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces battery pack weight and space requirements while allowing selective decoupling of subpacks, enhancing power management efficiency and vehicle range by preventing complete system shutdown during overvoltage conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The RF transmitter sends a voltage value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery cell to the RF receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system includes a battery subpack having first and second battery cells, a cell monitoring circuit, a RF transmitter, an RF receiver, a subpack microprocessor, and a first transceiver. The circuit measures a voltage of a first battery cell. The system includes a master controller having a second transceiver. The RF transmitter sends a voltage value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery cell to the RF receiver. The subpack microprocessor determines the first battery cell has an overvoltage condition based on the voltage value and sends an overvoltage message to the master controller via the first and second transceivers. The subpack microprocessor induces first and second subpack contactors to each have an open operational state when the master controller sends an open command to the subpack microprocessor.