Modular Battery Pack Scalability and Temperature Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs for high-power devices like electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles face challenges in providing scalable output and capacity, as well as efficient temperature monitoring, particularly in large and complex configurations.

Innovation Solution

A modular battery pack design that allows for flexible scalability by connecting multiple battery packs with the same structure, featuring a bus bar system for efficient electrical connections and integrated temperature detection through strategically placed thermistors, enabling adaptive output and capacity adjustments and comprehensive temperature monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple battery packs are connected to provide various outputs and capacities, then scalability and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and configuration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into standardized modular battery packs that can be independently configured and connected. Each module contains a fixed number of battery cells arranged in specific series-parallel configurations, allowing the overall system to achieve various outputs by simply adding or removing complete modules rather than individually configuring each cell.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery modules are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized structures that allow the same module design to serve multiple different capacity and power requirements. The same basic module can be used in various configurations (1 module, 2 modules, 3 modules, etc.) to provide different total capacities and outputs, eliminating the need for custom designs for each application.

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

2Measurement precision

If temperature detection positions are separately set in extended modules, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detection accuracyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple temperature detection functions are merged into a single integrated temperature detection module. This module contains multiple thermistors positioned at different locations (including central and corner positions) that can simultaneously monitor temperatures across the entire battery pack, whether it consists of one module or multiple extended modules, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms for each module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature detection module is designed to automatically adapt to the battery pack configuration. When modules are extended or reconfigured, the detection module self-adjusts its monitoring coverage through its multi-position sensor array, requiring no manual reconfiguration or additional assembly steps for temperature monitoring setup.

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

The modular design enhances scalability and efficiency by allowing output and capacity adjustments while ensuring reliable temperature monitoring across the battery pack, improving energy density and operational stability.

Implementation Method 1

a thermistor accommodated in the hollow protrusion through the exposure hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a thermistor accommodated in the hollow protrusion through the exposure hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermistor effect: Thermistor

Data Source

PatentEP4095998A1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4095998A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4095998A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4095998A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack (1) includes a plurality of battery cells (10); a cell holder (W) surrounding an accommodation space in which the plurality of battery cells (10) are accommodated, the cell holder (W) including a hollow protrusion (H) located at a temperature detection position (A) for temperature measurement of the plurality of battery cells (10); a cover (C) on the cell holder (W) and including an exposure hole (C') to expose the hollow protrusion (H); and a thermistor (TH) accommodated in the hollow protrusion (H) through the exposure hole (C'). The battery pack (1) may provide a module with various outputs and capacities, by using battery packs having the same structure as one unit and connecting a plurality of battery packs (1) to each other, and may provide scalability to adaptively correspond to various outputs and capacities using the battery packs (1) having the same structure, by increasing or reducing the number of battery packs to be included in the module.