Galvanically Isolated Voltage Translation for Series Battery Buses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in enabling reliable and easy-to-implement data communication between data bus devices operating at different voltage levels, particularly in battery systems with two batteries connected in series.
Innovation Solution
A voltage level translator device with transceiver units, galvanically isolated signal transmission units, and a translation unit to facilitate data communication between devices at different voltage levels, using optocouplers and programmable computing units to ensure protocol compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data bus devices operate at different voltage levels, then system adaptability is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voltage level translator as an intermediary device between data bus devices operating at different voltage levels. The translator includes a first transceiver unit connected to a first data bus terminal and a second transceiver unit connected to a second data bus terminal, with galvanically isolated signal transmission units in between. This intermediary converts signals between different voltage levels while maintaining galvanic isolation, thus enabling communication between devices at different voltages without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical connection between different voltage domains with optical or capacitive coupling through galvanically isolated signal transmission units. This substitution eliminates harmful electrical interference and ground loops while maintaining signal integrity, allowing reliable communication across voltage boundaries without direct galvanic connection.
2Reliability
If galvanic isolation is implemented between different voltage domains, then communication safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage level translator is designed as a multi-functional integrated device that simultaneously performs galvanic isolation, voltage level translation, and signal transmission. By combining these functions into a single device rather than separate components, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining communication safety through galvanic isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The galvanically isolated signal transmission units serve as intermediaries that provide electrical isolation while maintaining signal integrity. These units act as independent building blocks that can be integrated into the translator without significantly increasing overall complexity, as they are standard components designed for this specific purpose of safe signal transmission across voltage boundaries.
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 reliable and easy-to-implement data communication between battery monitoring devices operating at different voltage levels, allowing for effective monitoring of battery systems with two batteries connected in series.
Implementation Method 1
The two galvanically isolated circuits can be coupled, for example, optoelectronically, capacitively or inductively
Implementation Method 2
Using optocoupler units also enables relatively high data transmission rates
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a voltage level translator device (100) for a data bus (19), comprising: a first data bus terminal (8), a first supply voltage terminal (6), a first reference voltage terminal (7), a second data bus terminal (11), a second supply voltage terminal (9) and a second reference voltage terminal (10), a first transceiver unit (14) comprising a transmit line terminal (14.4) and a receive line terminal (14.5), wherein the first transceiver unit (14) is powered via the first supply voltage terminal (6) and the first reference voltage terminal (7) and is connected to the first data bus terminal (8), a first galvanically isolated signal transmission unit (16) connected to the transmit line terminal (14.4) of the first transceiver unit (14), a second galvanically isolated signal transmission unit (17) connected to the receive line terminal (14.5) of the first transceiver unit (14), a second transceiver unit (15) comprising a transmit line terminal (15.4) and a receive line terminal (15.5), wherein the second transceiver unit (15) is powered via the second supply voltage terminal (9) and the second reference voltage terminal (10) and is connected to the second data bus terminal (11), and a translation unit (18) comprising a first transmit line terminal (18.3) connected to the first galvanically isolated signal transmission unit (16), a first receive line terminal (18.4) connected to the second galvanically isolated signal transmission unit (17), a second transmit line terminal (18.5) connected to the transmit line terminal (15.4) of the second transceiver unit (15), and a second receive line terminal (18.6) connected to the receive line terminal (15.5) of the second transceiver unit (15), wherein the translation unit (18) is powered via the second supply voltage terminal (9) and the second reference voltage terminal (10), and wherein the translation unit (18) is configured to receive data via the first receive line terminal (18.4) and transmit the received data in a protocol-compliant manner via the second transmit line terminal (18.5), and to receive data via the second receive line terminal (18.6) and transmit the received data in a protocol-compliant manner via the first transmit line terminal (18.3).