Portable High Voltage Battery Impedance Diagnostic Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handheld devices for measuring battery impedance in high voltage batteries, such as those used in electric and hybrid automobiles, are impractical due to the need for heavy and bulky external power supplies, which restrict their portability and efficiency, especially when conducting impedance spectroscopy tests that require significant energy storage and power delivery.

Innovation Solution

A portable battery diagnostic device that splits high voltage batteries into two parts, allowing one part to deliver power and the other to store energy, eliminating the need for external power sources by using power processing means to inject current and perform diagnostic tests within the battery, utilizing power from one part to drive the other, and employing converters to manage voltage differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If external bidirectional power supply is used to inject current into high voltage battery, then impedance measurement capability is achieved, but device weight and size become excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpedance measurement capabilityVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery under test serves its own measurement needs by using its own voltage to power the measurement circuitry. The battery's electrical energy is directly utilized to generate the test current and power the monitoring systems, eliminating the need for external power supplies and reducing device weight significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The battery serves dual functions: as the object being tested and as the power source for the testing equipment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate power supply systems, reducing both weight and complexity of the measurement device.

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

2Measurement precision

If external bidirectional power supply is used to inject current into high voltage battery, then impedance measurement capability is achieved, but device portability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpedance measurement capabilityVSAvoiddevice portability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The battery under test serves its own measurement needs by using its own voltage to power the measurement circuitry. The battery's electrical energy is directly utilized to generate the test current and power the monitoring systems, eliminating the need for external power supplies and reducing device weight significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The heavy external power supply component is extracted and removed from the measurement system. By utilizing the battery's own voltage, the design eliminates the need for carrying bulky power supply equipment, enabling portable field measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If external bidirectional power supply is used to inject current into high voltage battery, then current injection capability is achieved, but application flexibility is limited to stationary test benches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent injection capabilityVSAvoidapplication flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The battery under test serves its own measurement needs by using its own voltage to power the measurement circuitry. The battery's electrical energy is directly utilized to generate the test current and power the monitoring systems, eliminating the need for external power supplies and reducing device weight significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The heavy external power supply component is extracted and removed from the measurement system. By utilizing the battery's own voltage, the design eliminates the need for carrying bulky power supply equipment, enabling portable field measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Power

If large energy storage system is assembled to deliver required energy for impedance spectroscopy test, then power delivery capability is achieved, but device weight and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower delivery capabilityVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery under test serves its own measurement needs by using its own voltage to power the measurement circuitry. The battery's electrical energy is directly utilized to generate the test current and power the monitoring systems, eliminating the need for external power supplies and reducing device weight significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 portable battery diagnostic testing without external power supplies, reducing device size and weight, allowing for accurate impedance measurements across a range of frequencies, and enabling the reuse or recycling of batteries by assessing their state of health without energy wastage or excessive weight.

Implementation Method 1

the battery can store the energy delivered by the battery, followed by the delivery of the same amount of energy from the storage system to the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical energy storage: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 2

As batteries have a significant capacitance, injecting AC current into such batteries requires considerable amounts of power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3394625A1Device for measuring characteristics of high voltage batteries
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV (VITO)

AI summary

Systems, methods and component parts for portable or handheld measuring of a characteristic of batteries or other energy storage devices are described. In particular the present invention relates to systems, methods and component parts for measuring a characteristic of high voltage batteries, e.g. 0.1 to 1 kV and/or automotive batteries as used in electric or hybrid automobiles or vehicles. In particular the present invention relates to systems, methods and component parts for performing a battery diagnostic test, for example on high voltage batteries, e.g. 0.1 to 1 kV and/or automotive batteries as used in electric or hybrid automobiles. One such characteristic or diagnostic parameter is the impedance of such batteries and one such method is impedance spectroscopy testing.