Battery Module Busbar Communication to Cut Wiring Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery systems face high wiring complexity and manufacturing costs due to two-wire communication protocols, which also pose safety risks due to reversed polarity issues and inadequate thermal management, leading to inefficient power generation and reduced battery lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A battery system with a communication network using busbars as both power and signal lines, coupled with cell supervision circuits and modulators/demodulators, reduces wiring complexity and costs while ensuring secure, low-voltage-independent communication between battery modules and the battery management system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a two-wire communication protocol is used for communication between BMS and battery modules, then communication functionality is achieved, but wiring complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidwiring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power transmission and data communication functions into a single wire connection. The busbar serves dual purposes: transmitting electrical power between battery modules and carrying communication signals between CSC units, thereby eliminating the need for separate communication wiring and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication wire is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it serves as both a power transmission conductor and a data communication channel. This multi-functional approach allows the same physical infrastructure to support both electrical power delivery and digital communication protocols

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

2Reliability

If a two-wire communication protocol is used for communication between BMS and battery modules, then communication functionality is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power transmission and data communication functions into a single wire connection. The busbar serves dual purposes: transmitting electrical power between battery modules and carrying communication signals between CSC units, thereby eliminating the need for separate communication wiring and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication wire is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it serves as both a power transmission conductor and a data communication channel. This multi-functional approach allows the same physical infrastructure to support both electrical power delivery and digital communication protocols

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

3Reliability

If conventional communication wiring is used, then communication is established, but safety risks due to reversed polarity persist

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication establishmentVSAvoidreversed polarity safety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system automatically detects and adapts to the polarity configuration of connected battery modules. The CSC units perform self-diagnosis upon connection and dynamically adjust their communication protocol to match the detected polarity, eliminating the need for manual polarity configuration and preventing reversed polarity errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3316389B1Battery system, communication circuit for a battery system and vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3316389B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3316389B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3316389B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a battery system (100) that comprises a first system terminal (101) and a second system terminal (101) with a plurality of battery modules (90) connected in series between the first system terminal (101) and the second system terminal (101). Each battery module (90) comprises a plurality of battery cells (80) connected in series and/or in parallel between a first module terminal (93) and a second module terminal (94)as well as a cell supervision circuit (70) with a first signal port (71) and a second signal port (72). The battery system (100) further comprises a plurality of busbars (60), each busbar (60) interconnecting a second module terminal (94) of a first battery module (91) and a first module terminal (93) of second battery module (92). The second signal port (72) of a first battery module (91) and the first signal port (71) of a second battery module (92) are coupled via one of a plurality of first data lines (61) and via one of the plurality of busbars (60), wherein the cell supervision circuits (70) are configured to transmit and receive signals via the first data lines (61) and the busbars (60). The present invention further relates to a communication circuit (200) for a battery system (100), enabling a bidirectional communication between battery modules (40) via a single wire data line (61) and a busbar (60), and to vehicle comprising such battery system (100) and/or communication circuit (200).