BMS Software Update Using External Hardware Version Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for software updates in Battery Management Systems (BMS) are prone to errors due to incorrect hardware version input, as the hardware version is directly stored and managed in the boot code.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that utilize a separate hardware version information identification device to store and output hardware version information, which is then received by a microcontroller through designated input/output channels for accurate comparison with a compatible hardware version list during software updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hardware version is directly stored and managed in boot code, then version checking can be performed, but errors and accidents may occur due to incorrect entries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware version identification accuracyVSAvoidboot code structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates hardware version information from boot code by creating a dedicated hardware version identification unit. This unit independently stores and manages hardware version data, while the boot code only needs to retrieve and compare this information. This segmentation eliminates the risk of incorrect version entries in boot code while maintaining version checking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dedicated hardware version identification unit as an intermediary between the actual hardware and the boot code. This intermediary unit handles all hardware version information storage and management, preventing direct manipulation of version data in boot code and thereby eliminating errors caused by incorrect entries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If hardware version checking is performed through boot code, then version verification is possible, but channel utilization of microcontroller is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversion verification capabilityVSAvoidmicrocontroller channel utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hardware version information storage and management function from the microcontroller's boot code and places it in a dedicated hardware version identification unit. This extraction allows the microcontroller to focus on its primary processing tasks while the separate unit handles version information, thereby improving channel utilization without sacrificing version verification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12271724B2Method for updating software by confirming hardware version information

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

The present invention is to identify a hardware version capable of performing a software update and does not store the version information in the hardware in the code, but inputs the version information to the microcontroller through the hardware version identification unit that stores the BMS hardware version information. Also, in order to compensate for the low channel utilization of the microcontroller when one microcontroller is used for software update, it is a device and method for operating in both the application mode and the boot mode.