Battery Temperature Assessment via External Sensor and Power Weighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining battery temperature often require additional sensors and cabling, increasing costs and complexity, and may not accurately reflect the battery's internal temperature due to external temperature measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines battery temperature by measuring at least one temperature value outside the battery, calculating electrical power values associated with the battery's operation, and weighting these values with specific factors to achieve an accurate energy balance-based temperature assessment using a device with a temperature sensor, voltmeter, and evaluation unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is installed inside the battery, then the temperature measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by placing temperature sensors outside the battery at multiple locations (battery terminals, housing, mounting structure) and using thermal models to infer internal battery temperature. This mediator approach allows accurate temperature assessment without direct internal sensing, avoiding the complexity of internal sensor installation while maintaining measurement precision through computational thermography.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a thermal copy or model of the battery's internal temperature conditions by measuring external temperatures and using thermal conduction models to calculate internal battery temperature. This copying approach allows the system to determine internal battery temperature without physically placing sensors inside, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If additional temperature sensors and cabling are provided, then the temperature measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing battery components (terminals, housing, mounting structure) serve dual functions: their primary functions plus temperature sensing functions. By using these existing structures as sensor mounting points and thermal pathways, the system achieves temperature measurement capability without additional dedicated sensor components, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery's own structure (terminals, housing, mounting points) serves the dual purpose of its original function and temperature sensing. The existing components act as their own temperature sensors by conducting heat from the battery interior to external measurement points, eliminating the need for separate sensing components and reducing manufacturing costs.
3Device complexity
If external temperature measurements are used to determine battery temperature, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the external temperature measurement into multiple segmented measurement points (positive terminal, negative terminal, housing, mounting structure) rather than using a single external measurement. This segmentation allows the system to capture different thermal pathways and use them in a comprehensive thermal model, improving precision while keeping device complexity low through software-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for temperature determination by using multiple external temperature measurements combined with thermal conduction models, electrical current data, and voltage data. This multi-parameter approach transforms simple external temperature readings into accurate internal battery temperature assessments through computational methods, maintaining low device complexity while improving precision.
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
This approach allows for more accurate battery temperature determination with reduced costs and complexity by integrating external temperature and power measurements, effectively accounting for heat sources and sinks, thereby improving the precision of temperature assessment.
Implementation Method 1
determining at least one temperature value at a respective temperature measuring point outside the battery in the vicinity of the battery
Implementation Method 2
ascertaining the temperature in the electrical battery from an energy balance in dependence on the at least one weighted temperature value and the weighted electrical power values
Data Source
AI summary
A method for ascertaining the temperature in an electrical battery includes determining at least one temperature value at a temperature measuring point outside the battery in the vicinity of the battery; determining at least one electrical power value in dependence on a characteristic power variable associated with the operation of the battery; weighting the power values and the temperature values with an assigned weighting factor; and ascertaining the temperature in the electrical battery from an energy balance in dependence on the at least one weighted temperature value and the weighted electrical power values.