Modular Battery Cell Switching for Multi-Voltage Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery systems in vehicles lack dynamic adjustable capacity storage solutions, limiting their ability to efficiently provide electrical energy at varying voltage levels required for different vehicle systems, and do not effectively manage redundancy for fault tolerance.
Innovation Solution
A modular dynamically adjustable capacity storage system utilizing a battery pack with solid-state switches that can connect battery cells in series or parallel, controlled by a computerized switching controller to provide electrical energy at multiple voltage levels and manage redundancy, using field-effect transistors or other semiconductor devices for efficient energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If battery systems use fixed capacity storage without dynamic adjustment, then system simplicity is maintained, but the ability to efficiently provide electrical energy at varying voltage levels is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system employs solid-state switches (MOSFETs or IGBTs) to dynamically reconfigure battery cells between series and parallel connections, enabling real-time adjustment of voltage output levels. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to adapt to varying voltage requirements of different vehicle systems while maintaining a relatively simple physical battery pack structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independently controllable battery cell groups that can be selectively connected through solid-state switches. Each group can be configured separately in series or parallel, allowing granular control over the overall system voltage and current output. This segmentation enables flexible voltage level provision without requiring multiple complete battery packs.
2Reliability
If battery systems lack modular dynamic switching capability, then device complexity is reduced, but fault tolerance and redundancy management are ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The solid-state switching system enables real-time reconfiguration of battery cell connections in response to detected faults. When a fault is identified in a particular battery cell or group, the controller dynamically switches to alternative configurations that isolate the faulty component while maintaining power supply to vehicle systems. This dynamic response capability provides effective fault tolerance without requiring complete system redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates pre-configured alternative battery cell groupings and switching paths that are ready to be activated upon fault detection. The modular architecture and solid-state switches are designed in advance to provide multiple operational configurations, cushioning against potential failures by having backup pathways already in place but not actively consuming additional resources during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple DC-DC converters are used to provide multiple voltage levels, then voltage flexibility is improved, but system efficiency and complexity are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage conversion function from separate DC-DC converter units and integrates it directly into the battery pack architecture through solid-state switching. By taking out the need for external DC-DC converters and implementing voltage level selection through internal cell switching, the system eliminates the energy losses associated with multiple power conversion stages while maintaining voltage flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack design merges the functions of multiple battery packs and DC-DC converters into a single integrated system. By combining multiple battery cell groups with solid-state switching capability, the system simultaneously provides multiple voltage levels (12V, 24V, 48V) without requiring separate conversion units, thereby reducing overall system complexity and minimizing energy conversion losses.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for modular dynamically adjustable capacity storage for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, a negative terminal including a chassis ground connection, and a plurality of positive battery pack terminals. The negative terminal and the plurality of positive battery pack terminals are useful for connecting at least one electrical circuit through the battery pack. The system further includes a battery cell switching system, including a plurality of solid-state switches connected to each of the battery cells. The plurality of solid-state switches is operable to selectively connect a portion of the battery cells in parallel, selectively connect the portion of the battery cells in series, and selectively connect one of the plurality of battery cells to one of the plurality of positive battery pack terminals.