Module Battery Unit Identifier Assignment on a Serial Bus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery management systems face challenges in efficiently assigning unique identifiers to slave controllers within a battery module, leading to reduced mass productivity when slave controllers need to be assembled or replaced.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatically assigning unique identifiers to module battery management units through a serial communication bus, involving random selection and comparison of temporary identifiers to ensure non-overlapping final identifiers, simplifying production and repair processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If identifiers are pre-stored in slave controllers, then identifier assignment is deterministic, but mass productivity is lowered when assembly or replacement is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentifier assignment reliabilityVSAvoidmass productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having slave controllers pre-generate candidate identifiers and prepare for automatic assignment during initialization, rather than requiring manual pre-configuration. This allows the system to be ready for automatic identifier assignment before actual deployment, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The slave controllers automatically select and assign their own identifiers from candidate pools during system initialization, without requiring external manual configuration. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for pre-storing identifiers and enables high-speed automatic assignment, improving both reliability and mass productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual identifier assignment is used, then identifier uniqueness is ensured, but production and repair processes become complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentifier uniquenessVSAvoidproduction process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Slave controllers automatically select unique identifiers from candidate pools during system initialization without manual intervention. The automatic selection process ensures uniqueness through collision detection and resolution mechanisms, eliminating the need for manual identifier assignment and significantly simplifying production and repair processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the state of identifier assignment from static pre-configuration to dynamic automatic assignment during initialization. By implementing random selection from candidate pools with uniqueness verification, the system maintains identifier uniqueness while dramatically improving ease of manufacture and repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If automatic identifier assignment is implemented, then mass productivity is improved, but identifier overlap may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass productivityVSAvoididentifier uniqueness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where slave controllers transmit their selected candidate identifiers to the master controller, which verifies uniqueness across all controllers. If overlaps are detected, the system provides feedback for re-selection or adjustment, ensuring identifier uniqueness is maintained while preserving the benefits of automatic assignment for mass productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Slave controllers autonomously handle identifier selection and uniqueness verification through communication with the master controller. This self-service approach with built-in conflict resolution maintains high productivity while ensuring reliability through automatic detection and resolution of identifier overlaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4440138B1Methods of master battery unit and module battery unit management, and battery system
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4440138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4440138B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4440138B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of operating a module battery management unit includes randomly selecting one number from among assignable identification numbers in response to an identifier assignment command, assigning the selected number as a temporary identifier, transmitting a first message including the temporary identifier in response to an identifier transmission command , receiving messages transmitted by the other module battery management unit in response to the identifier transmission command, and checking identifiers of the other module battery management unit from the messages, comparing the temporary identifier with identifiers of the other module battery management unit in response to an identifier comparison command , assigning the temporary identifier as a final identifier if the temporary identifier does not overlap with identifiers of the other module battery management unit, and transmitting a second message including the final identifier to the serial communication bus in response to an identifier check command.