Battery Pack Switch Control for Low-Voltage Lockout Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

High voltage switches in battery packs can fail to maintain the closed state during transient voltage fluctuations, leading to misoperation and potential welding of the switch contacts.

Innovation Solution

A switch control device with a low voltage protective circuit that generates an off signal when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value, ensuring the switch remains open even if the control signal indicates a closed state, thereby preventing unintended re-closure during voltage transients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high voltage switch is used to control the battery pack output, then the switch can effectively transmit or cut off high voltage electrical energy, but during transient voltage situations the switch may fail to maintain the closed state, leading to misoperation and contact welding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitch reliabilityVSAvoidcontact welding
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device predicts future battery voltage based on historical voltage data and trend analysis before the transient situation occurs. This preliminary prediction allows the system to prepare appropriate control signals in advance, adjusting the switch control strategy proactively to prevent contact welding during upcoming voltage transients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors battery voltage in real-time and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the switch control signals. The control device compares actual voltage with predicted voltage and modifies the control strategy accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing voltage conditions to prevent switch misoperation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the switch control is directly operated by battery voltage, then the control system is simple, but during transient situations the switch cannot maintain stable state, causing repeated opening and closing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidswitch state stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary analysis of battery voltage trends using historical data and prediction algorithms before transient situations occur. This advance preparation allows the system to anticipate voltage fluctuations and adjust control signals proactively, maintaining switch state stability without requiring complex real-time intervention during transients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous voltage monitoring with feedback control, where the control device adjusts switch control signals based on real-time voltage measurements and predicted trends. This feedback mechanism maintains stable switch operation during voltage transients while keeping the overall control architecture relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If no voltage prediction mechanism is implemented, then the control device operates with simple logic, but it cannot anticipate transient situations and prevent switch misoperation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidswitch operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device incorporates voltage prediction functionality that analyzes historical battery voltage data and forecasts future voltage trends. This preliminary prediction capability allows the system to prepare appropriate control strategies before transient situations occur, improving switch operation reliability while maintaining relatively simple control logic through algorithm-based forecasting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4422023A1Switch control device and battery pack including the same
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4422023A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4422023A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4422023A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A switch control device according to the present disclosure may include a controller configured to output a control signal to control an opening/closing of a switch; a low voltage protective circuit configured to generate an off signal indicating the opening state of the switch when a voltage of the battery module is lower than a predetermined value in a state that the control signal indicates a closing state of the switch, and to maintain the output of the off signal until the control signal indicates the opening state of the switch; and a switch driver that controls the opening/closing of the switch according to the control signal and the off signal and controls the switch in an opening state regardless of the control signal when the off signal is received from the low voltage protective circuit.