Fuse Diagnosis Using Voltage Division and ADC Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuse diagnosis systems for secondary batteries, particularly in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, require additional components and increased volume and cost due to separate systems for diagnosing fuse states, which compromises efficiency and energy density.

Innovation Solution

A fuse diagnosis device and method using voltage distribution that connects resistors and diagnostic resistors in parallel with the battery, employing an ADC converter and control unit to calculate and compare voltages, allowing for fuse state diagnosis without additional components, thereby reducing volume and price.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate system or additional component is installed to diagnose the state of the fuse, then the reliability of fuse diagnosis is improved, but the volume and price of the battery pack and battery management system are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuse diagnosis capabilityVSAvoidbattery pack volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fuse diagnosis function with the existing battery management system by integrating a diagnostic resistor and voltage detection circuitry into the BMS. The control unit within the BMS detects voltage across the diagnostic resistor to determine fuse status, eliminating the need for separate diagnosis systems and reducing overall volume while maintaining diagnostic reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery management system is designed to perform multiple functions including both battery management and fuse diagnosis. The control unit utilizes existing voltage sensing capabilities and processing resources to simultaneously manage battery operations and diagnose fuse states, making the system multi-functional without requiring dedicated separate components

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

2Reliability

If a separate system or additional component is installed to diagnose the state of the fuse, then the reliability of fuse diagnosis is improved, but the price of the battery pack and battery management system is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuse diagnosis capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines fuse diagnosis functionality with the existing battery management system architecture. By utilizing the control unit's existing voltage detection capabilities and processing resources, the system achieves fuse diagnosis without requiring separate dedicated components, thereby reducing component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining diagnostic reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery management system performs fuse diagnosis using its own existing resources - the control unit detects voltage across the diagnostic resistor through its built-in voltage sensing circuitry and processes the signal using its internal processing capabilities. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external diagnosis equipment or additional dedicated diagnosis circuits, reducing overall system cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If multiple ADC converters are used to diagnose multiple fuses, then the measurement precision of fuse states is improved, but the volume and price of the system are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuse state detection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of ADC converters
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single ADC converter is designed to sequentially or simultaneously measure voltage across multiple diagnostic resistors connected to different fuses. The control unit multiplexes the ADC resource to read voltage signals from different channels, enabling one ADC to perform the measurement function that would otherwise require multiple ADCs, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through proper signal conditioning and sequential sampling

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic sampling of voltage signals across diagnostic resistors using a single ADC converter. The ADC sequentially measures each voltage signal at different time intervals, and the control unit processes these time-stamped measurements to determine the status of multiple fuses. This periodic action allows one ADC to effectively monitor multiple fuse states without requiring simultaneous measurement capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and cost-effective fuse state diagnosis by integrating the diagnosis functionality within the existing battery management system, reducing the need for separate components and enhancing the energy density and efficiency of secondary battery systems.

Implementation Method 1

calculate voltage of a battery applied to the diagnostic resistor by using the voltage distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage division: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP3432012B1Fuse diagnosis device and method using voltage division
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3432012B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3432012B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3432012B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to fuse diagnosis device and method using voltage distribution, and more particularly, to fuse diagnosis device and method using voltage distribution which connect a resistor unit and a diagnostic resistor to one side of the fuse so as to be connected with the battery in parallel and calculate voltage of a battery applied to the diagnostic resistor by using the voltage distribution to diagnose a state of the fuse, in order to diagnose the states of one or more fuses connected in parallel.