Dynamic Battery Voltage Switching for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery systems for vehicles face inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for multiple voltage levels and high-power DC-DC converters, which result in weight, size, and cost issues, as well as limitations in charging infrastructure compatibility and electromagnetic interference.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with multiple battery elements and a switching unit that dynamically connects subsets of these elements to provide various voltage levels for load consumers, using semiconductor switching elements and additional battery taps to generate different voltage levels and stabilize electrical potentials, allowing for efficient energy distribution and reduced weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple voltage levels are provided using conventional DC-DC converters, then different voltage requirements for electrical loads are met, but vehicle weight and system cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into multiple battery elements that can be independently connected or disconnected. By dividing the battery into modular elements, the system can dynamically reconfigure voltage levels without requiring heavy DC-DC converters for each voltage conversion, thus reducing overall system weight while maintaining adaptability to different voltage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching of battery elements using semiconductor switching elements controlled by a control unit. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt voltage levels in real-time based on load requirements, eliminating the need for static, weighty DC-DC converter systems while maintaining voltage compatibility across different operational modes.
2Power
If high-power DC-DC converters are used to exchange energy between voltage levels, then power requirements are met, but converter size, weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple DC-DC converters into a single battery system with integrated switching elements. By combining voltage conversion and power transmission functions within the battery assembly itself, the system achieves high-power capability without the complexity and weight of separate converter systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system performs its own voltage conversion and power management functions through integrated semiconductor switching elements and control logic, eliminating the need for external DC-DC converters. This self-service approach reduces device complexity while maintaining full power transmission capability across different voltage levels.
3Power
If additional voltage levels are introduced to meet high power requirements, then power delivery is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same battery elements and switching components serve multiple voltage levels and power requirements. This universal design allows the system to deliver high power to electrical drives while also supporting auxiliary loads, eliminating the need for separate systems for each function and reducing overall complexity.
4Device complexity
If conventional battery systems are used with fixed voltage levels, then system simplicity is maintained, but compatibility with diverse electrical loads is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed voltage structure into a dynamic, reconfigurable system using semiconductor switching elements. This allows the battery to adapt its voltage output to match different load requirements while maintaining a relatively simple physical structure, thus improving load compatibility without significantly increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system (10) has at least one battery (9) with a plurality of battery elements (1, 2, 24, n), a regulating or control unit (12) and a switching unit (3) with at least one switching element (6). The regulating or control unit (12) is configured to instruct the switching unit (3) to dynamically switch the at least one switching element (6) over time such that battery elements (1, 2, 24, n) from at least one accordingly dynamically changing subset of the plurality of battery elements (1, 2, 24, n) are connected, and a respective voltage level to be provided is provided thereby for the plurality of load consumers. In addition to providing a plurality of voltage levels, the battery elements (1, 2, 24, n) are deliberately loaded.