Energy Non-Consumption Cell Balancing Integrated Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secondary battery cell balancing technologies result in energy waste due to the consumption of overcharged energy as heat, and they require a large number of components, increasing the circuit area and complexity.

Innovation Solution

An energy non-consumption type cell balancing method that uses a circuit with a first and second energy delivery path to store and transfer energy between battery cells and energy storage elements, reducing energy waste and component count, and minimizing circuit area by integrating the balancing functionality into a compact module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If energy consumption type cell balancing is used to balance battery cells, then cell balancing can be achieved, but energy is wasted as heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell balancingVSAvoidenergy waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary energy storage element that temporarily stores energy from overcharged battery cells and later releases it to undercharged cells. This mediator component enables energy transfer without direct dissipation, resolving the contradiction between achieving cell balancing and preventing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding (wasting) the overcharged energy as heat through resistors, the patent recovers this energy by storing it in an energy storage element. The recovered energy is then reused to charge undercharged cells, eliminating energy waste while maintaining cell balancing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If traditional cell balancing circuits are used, then cell balancing function is provided, but the number of components is large and circuit area is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell balancing functionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple cell balancing circuits into a single integrated circuit that can handle multiple battery cells. By combining the functions of multiple separate balancing circuits into one unified device, the number of components is reduced while the cell balancing function is preserved for the entire battery pack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated circuit is designed with universal functionality to balance multiple battery cells through a single device. The circuit can selectively connect to and balance different cells using switch arrays, making one component perform the work of multiple separate balancing circuits, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9583957B2Cell balancing integrated circuit, cell balancing system, and cell balancing method

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 SILICON WORKS CO LTD

AI summary

Introduced are a cell balancing integrated circuit which may be realized including a small number of switches or diodes, an energy non-consumption type cell balancing system including the cell balancing integrated circuit, and an energy non-consumption type cell balancing method. The energy non-consumption type cell balancing system includes a battery pack, a cell balancing circuit, and a plurality of inductors and capacitors.