Battery Voltage Detection Circuit Layout for Fault-Aware Ring Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional voltage measurement devices in ring-shaped networks experience electrical abnormalities such as excessive current when commands and replies encounter failure points, leading to potential malfunctions and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A voltage measurement device with a daisy chain configuration of voltage detection circuits, including reply output, communication transfer, and end information holding circuits, allows for parallel communication from both ends, preventing commands from being transferred through specified failure points, thereby reducing electrical abnormalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a ring-shaped network is used for voltage measurement, then communication coverage is improved, but electrical abnormalities such as excessive current occur when commands and replies reach failure parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidexcessive current
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ring-shaped network into two separate communication paths: an upper path and a lower path. Each path has dedicated communication circuits (upper communication transfer circuit and lower communication transfer circuit) that operate independently. This segmentation prevents commands and replies from circulating indefinitely around the entire ring, thereby preventing excessive current when failure parts are encountered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces communication end information holding circuits that act as intermediaries to control command transmission. These circuits determine whether to forward commands based on stored end information, preventing commands from reaching failure parts and causing harmful current effects while maintaining reliable communication coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If communication commands are transferred through the entire ring network, then all nodes can be accessed, but electrical abnormalities occur when failure parts are encountered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenode accessibilityVSAvoidelectrical abnormality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent stores communication end information in advance in holding circuits before communication occurs. This preliminary action enables each node to determine beforehand whether it should forward a command or terminate transmission, preventing commands from reaching failure parts and causing electrical abnormalities while still allowing comprehensive node accessibility through proper routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a daisy chain configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency decreases when multiple paths are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork structureVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a dimensional aspect to the daisy chain by creating upper and lower communication paths that operate in parallel. This transforms a single-path sequential structure into a multi-path parallel structure, maintaining the simplicity of the daisy chain physical layout while significantly improving communication efficiency through simultaneous multi-directional data transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3757591B1Voltage measurement device and voltage detection method
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 NUVOTON TECH CORP JAPAN
  • EP3757591B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3757591B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3757591B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A voltage measurement device (100) is a voltage measurement device including a plurality of voltage detection circuits which measure cell voltages of a plurality of cells connected in series. Each of the plurality of voltage detection circuits (1) includes: a communication end information holding circuit (51, 71) which holds communication end information specifying, as at least one communication end position, at least one of the plurality of voltage detection circuits; and a communication control circuit (52, 72) which controls transfer for sending a communication command received from a preceding voltage detection circuit located at a preceding stage to a next voltage detection circuit located at a next stage, according to the communication end information.