Battery Connection Switching Circuit With Diode-Based Rectification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric circuits for electric vehicles require a complex configuration of many switches to manage storage cell units, making them cumbersome and prone to failures.

Innovation Solution

An electric circuit with diodes and contactors that rectify currents and switch battery connections between parallel and series configurations, simplifying the configuration and reducing the number of mechanical switches, thereby minimizing the risk of failures and allowing efficient use of power from multiple batteries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If many switches are used to appropriately switch a plurality of storage cell units, then the battery system can efficiently manage charging and discharging, but the configuration becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery management capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple switch functions into a single connection switching device that can simultaneously control the connection state between first and second batteries and between batteries and the load, thereby reducing configuration complexity while maintaining full battery management capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection switching device is designed to perform multiple functions: switching batteries between series and parallel connections, controlling charge/discharge paths, and managing power flow to the load, eliminating the need for separate switches for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If many switches are used to switch storage cell units, then efficient power management is achieved, but the number of mechanical components increases leading to higher failure risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower management efficiencyVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple switch functions are merged into a single connection switching device, reducing the total number of mechanical components while maintaining efficient power management capability across all battery units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical switches with a connection switching device that uses minimal mechanical components, thereby maintaining switching functionality while significantly reducing the number of potential failure points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If storage cell units are connected in series during discharging, then higher voltage is obtained, but the connection configuration becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltageVSAvoidconnection configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection switching device dynamically reconfigures battery connections based on operational mode: connecting batteries in series during discharging to maximize voltage output, and in parallel during charging to optimize current distribution, with automatic switching between configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution enables a simpler configuration for using power from multiple batteries, reducing the likelihood of mechanical switch failures and efficiently managing battery connections during charging and discharging.

Implementation Method 1

a first rectifier configured to rectify a current flowing between a first pole terminal of the power supply and a first pole terminal of the first battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRectification: Diode

Implementation Method 2

a second rectifier configured to rectify a current being different from the current and flowing between the first pole terminal of the power supply and a first pole terminal of the second battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRectification: Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3550695B1Electric circuit and diagnosis method
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3550695B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3550695B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3550695B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An electric circuit switches connection among a plurality of storage cell units including a first storage cell unit and a second storage cell unit, a load of the plurality of storage cell units, and a power supply supplying power to the plurality of storage cell units. The electric circuit includes: a first rectifier configured to rectify a current flowing between a first pole terminal of the power supply and a first pole terminal of the first storage cell unit with homopolarity as polarity of the first pole terminal of the power supply; a second rectifier configured to rectify a current being different from the current and flowing between the first pole terminal of the power supply and a first pole terminal of the second storage cell unit with homopolarity as the polarity of the first pole terminal of the power supply; and a connection switching device configured to connect the plurality of storage cell units in series between the first pole terminal of the first storage cell unit and the first pole terminal of the second storage cell unit and release the series connection of the plurality of storage cell units during a period in which the power supply supplies power to the plurality of storage cell units.