Battery Pack MOSFET Stall Diagnosis via Parallel Module Voltage Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack the capability to effectively diagnose switches in battery packs, leading to increased energy loss due to undiagnosed MOSFET failures.

Innovation Solution

A switch diagnosing apparatus and method that includes positive and negative electrode module switches, diagnosis terminals, a voltage measuring unit, and a processor. The processor diagnoses switch states by measuring voltage differences between diagnosis terminals, determining if they exceed a predetermined threshold to indicate a stalled switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If MOSFET switches are used to control current supply in battery packs, then power control capability is improved, but the ability to diagnose switch failures is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control capabilityVSAvoiddiagnosis capability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces diagnosis terminals as intermediary elements connected to the MOSFET switches through specific paths. These terminals serve as mediators that allow external diagnosis equipment to detect the on/off states of the switches without interfering with their normal power control function. The diagnosis terminals provide a safe interface for monitoring while maintaining the original power control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the state of MOSFET switches is continuously monitored through diagnosis terminals and fed back to external diagnosis equipment. This feedback loop enables real-time detection of switch failures, allowing the system to respond to diagnostic information and maintain reliable operation despite the presence of multiple switches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If multiple battery modules are connected in parallel to increase capacity, then energy storage capacity is improved, but the complexity of diagnosing individual switch states is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoiddiagnosis complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the battery pack into multiple battery modules, each with its own dedicated diagnosis terminals. This segmentation allows independent diagnosis of each module's switch state, simplifying the overall diagnosis process despite the increased number of modules. Each module can be diagnosed separately through its specific diagnosis terminals, avoiding the need to analyze the entire parallel system as a single complex unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new diagnostic dimension by introducing separate diagnosis terminals that provide access to switch states without interfering with the power function. This creates an additional layer of information access, allowing diagnosis equipment to monitor switch states in parallel with the normal power operation, thereby managing complexity through dimensional separation of functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution enables effective diagnosis of switches in battery packs, reducing energy loss by identifying and addressing stalled switches, thereby improving system stability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a voltage measuring unit configured to measure voltages of the positive electrode diagnosis terminal and the negative electrode diagnosis terminal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage measurement: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP3754350B1Switch diagnosing apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3754350B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3754350B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a switch diagnosing apparatus and method capable of effectively diagnosing a switch during a process of diagnosing the switch provided to a battery pack. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, if a plurality of battery modules having a parallel structure are provided, the switch provided to a diagnosis target battery module may be effectively diagnosed based on the voltage of a switch provided to a battery module other than the diagnosis target battery module.