Battery Management System Signal Isolation via Time Division Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing battery management systems (BMS) require a large number of insulation elements, such as photo couplers, to transmit secondary protection and diagnosis signals to an external device while maintaining electrical separation, which increases manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A BMS that uses a small number of insulation elements by employing a configuration with N battery management units, where each unit transmits at least two pieces of data through time division using ADSYNC, with a signal mixer or calculator to connect and mix signals, reducing the need for multiple insulation elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large number of insulation elements (photo couplers) are used to transmit secondary protection and diagnosis signals while maintaining electrical separation, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple data transmission functions (secondary protection signal and diagnosis signal) into a single communication line. The BMS transmits both types of signals through one insulated communication line rather than requiring separate lines for each signal type, thereby reducing the number of insulation elements needed while maintaining electrical separation and signal reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication line is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it transmits both secondary protection signals and diagnosis signals through the same insulated connection. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated separate lines for each signal type, reducing component count and manufacturing cost while preserving reliable signal transmission

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

2Reliability

If multiple insulation elements are used to maintain electrical separation between BMS and external device, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical separation safetyVSAvoidnumber of insulation elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple signal transmission functions are merged into a single insulated communication line. The system transmits both secondary protection and diagnosis signals through one photo coupler rather than requiring separate photo couplers for each signal, thereby reducing the number of insulation elements while maintaining electrical separation safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a single photo coupler as an intermediary device to achieve electrical separation between the BMS and external device. This single mediator handles multiple signal types (secondary protection and diagnosis signals), reducing the number of intermediary devices needed while preserving the safety benefits of electrical isolation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration allows the BMS to connect to an external device using a reduced number of insulation elements, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and maintaining electrical separation.

Implementation Method 1

a photo coupler capable of transmitting and receiving an electrical signal while electrically separating the external device 10 from the BMS 100 is connected and used. The photo coupler corresponds to a switching element including a light emitting source (input) and a light detector (output).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2922171B1Battery management system for transmitting secondary protection signal and diagnostic signal using a small number of insulation elements
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2922171B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2922171B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2922171B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery management system for transmitting a secondary protection signal and a diagnosis signal using a small number of insulation elements. N battery management units included in the battery management system transmit at least two pieces of data via one communication line through time division. N data signals transmitted from the N battery management units are transmitted in a sequential order or are mixed to one signal and transmitted to an external device.