EV Battery Charging Protocol Selection Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles face challenges in optimizing battery life due to complex relationships between charge rate and battery lifetime, and state-of-charge, making it difficult for users to set appropriate charging parameters, which affects the vehicle's range and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack charging system that includes a user interface for inputting travel information, a system controller to determine optimal charge levels and rates, and sensors to monitor battery characteristics, ensuring the battery is charged sufficiently for intended travel distances while maximizing battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery is charged to a high charge level using a high charging rate, then the vehicle's range and reliability are improved, but the battery lifetime deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle range and reliabilityVSAvoidbattery lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes charging parameters (charge level and charging rate) based on real-time battery state and user travel requirements. The controller adjusts these parameters to optimize the balance between providing sufficient vehicle range and minimizing battery degradation, rather than using fixed high charging parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines and executes optimal charging parameters without requiring user expertise. The controller self-manages the charging process by calculating the appropriate charge level and rate based on battery characteristics and intended travel distance, eliminating the need for users to manually optimize complex charging settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the system automatically optimizes charging parameters, then battery lifetime is maximized, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifetimeVSAvoidcharging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines multiple functions into a single integrated controller that handles battery state monitoring, travel requirement analysis, and charging parameter determination. This multi-functional approach maximizes battery lifetime through automatic optimization while minimizing the number of separate components needed.

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

3Device complexity

If the user manually sets charging parameters, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the battery lifetime optimization is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidbattery lifetime optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining optimal charging parameters based on battery state and user travel inputs. This eliminates the need for users to manually optimize complex charging settings while still achieving superior battery lifetime optimization compared to manual parameter setting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Length of moving object

If the battery is charged to a high charge level, then the vehicle's range is improved, but the charging time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle rangeVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the charge level parameter based on the user's intended travel distance and battery state. Rather than always charging to maximum level, it calculates the precise charge level needed to achieve the required range, thereby reducing unnecessary charging time while maintaining sufficient vehicle range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3025900B1Battery pack charging protocol selection system
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 ATIEVA INC(US)
  • EP3025900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3025900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3025900B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A charging system and method of use are provided for optimizing the charging protocol used when charging the battery pack of an electric vehicle, where optimization is based, at least in part, on the user's intended departure time and intended travel distance. Based on the user's travel information the process determines (i) an optimal charge level that maximizes the battery pack's lifetime while assuring that there is sufficient energy for the vehicle to travel the intended distance and (ii) an optimal charging rate that maximizes the battery pack's lifetime while assuring that the battery pack is charged to the optimal charge level prior to the intended time of departure. Safety margins may be added to the user's travel information, thus insuring that the car is charged and ready for use if the user decides to leave earlier than expected, or if the travel takes a larger charge than expected.