Multi-Voltage Battery System Switch Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional DC/DC switch mode converters for energy storage systems are complex, costly, and heavy, with high switching frequencies causing EMC issues and difficulty in meeting automotive industry standards for compact and lightweight designs.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with multiple voltage levels that uses a controller to selectively connect battery cells in parallel or series through switches, reducing the need for large capacitors and magnetic components, and lowering switching frequencies for simplified energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If DC/DC switch mode converters are used to transfer energy between voltage levels, then energy transfer capability is achieved, but device complexity, size, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery system into multiple independent voltage rails by connecting battery cells in series strings, where each string can be independently controlled to provide different voltage levels. This eliminates the need for complex DC/DC converters by directly providing multiple voltages through selective cell groupings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching of battery cell connections using switch matrices that can reconfigure the series/parallel arrangements of battery cells in real-time. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adaptively provide different voltage levels and power distribution without requiring separate converters for each voltage level.
2Productivity
If high switching frequencies are used in DC/DC converters, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but EMC issues and RF radiation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the DC/DC converter stage entirely by directly connecting battery cells to multiple voltage rails through switch matrices. This removes the source of high-frequency switching emissions while maintaining energy transfer capability through direct electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a converter to transform one voltage to another (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by directly providing multiple voltage levels from the battery architecture itself, eliminating the need for voltage transformation and its associated high-frequency switching.
3Power
If multiple semiconductor devices and magnetic components are used in DC/DC converters, then energy transfer between voltage levels is achieved, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electromagnetic components (magnetic cores, transformers, inductors) with solid-state switch matrices that directly connect battery cells to voltage rails. This substitution eliminates heavy magnetic components while maintaining the same power transfer function through electronic switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple DC/DC converters into a single integrated battery management system with switch matrices. Instead of having separate converters for each voltage level, the system combines all voltage generation and distribution functions into one unified architecture, reducing overall weight and component count.
4Weight of moving object
If compact and lightweight components are used to reduce weight, then automotive fuel efficiency is improved, but EMC performance and safety critical function reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic switching with multiple redundant switch paths and real-time monitoring to maintain reliability while keeping components compact. The system can dynamically reroute power through alternative paths if a component fails, ensuring safety critical functions remain reliable without requiring oversized redundant components.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated multiple voltage battery system includes a first pair of output terminals, a second pair of output terminals, a plurality of first battery cells connected in series with each other and operatively connected to the first pair of output terminals, at least one second battery cell operatively connected to the second pair of outlet terminals, and a plurality of switches, the plurality of switches arranged such that each first battery cell in the plurality of first battery cells can be selectively placed in parallel with the at least one second battery cell while electrically isolating the other of the plurality of first battery cells from the at least one second battery cell, wherein each of the plurality of first battery cells has a nominal open cell voltage which is about the same as a nominal open cell voltage of the at least one second battery cell.