Battery Pack Optical BMS Layout for Secure Wiring-Free Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery management systems face issues with wired communication causing defects and electrical risks, and wireless RF communication is vulnerable to security threats and has high manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design utilizing optical wireless communication between slave and master BMSs, with slave BMSs positioned at different heights and using infrared transmission, and a reflector to facilitate signal reflection, reducing interference and space waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired communication is used between master BMS and slave BMS, then data transfer is reliable, but communication wiring defects and electrical short circuit risks occur due to external impact and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidwiring defects and electrical short circuit risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired communication system with an optical wireless communication system. Slave BMS units use optical transmitters to send status information wirelessly to the master BMS, eliminating physical wiring that is susceptible to external impact and vibration. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining communication reliability while eliminating wiring-related harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If RF wireless communication is used between master BMS and slave BMS, then wiring complexity is reduced, but security vulnerabilities and high manufacturing costs occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication wiring complexityVSAvoidcommunication security
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes RF wireless communication with optical wireless communication. Optical communication uses light-based transmission between optical transmitters on slave BMS units and the master BMS, providing wireless operation without the security vulnerabilities of RF systems. This resolution maintains low wiring complexity while improving communication security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If slave BMSs are positioned at the same height, then assembly is simplified, but optical signal interference occurs between adjacent slave BMSs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidoptical signal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces vertical dimension variation by positioning slave BMSs at different heights relative to the battery modules. This spatial arrangement in three dimensions allows optical signals to propagate without interference from adjacent slave BMSs, resolving the contradiction by maintaining assembly simplicity while eliminating optical signal interference through strategic height differentiation.

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

4Object-generated harmful factors

If optical transmitters and receivers are positioned at different heights, then signal interference is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical signal interferenceVSAvoidheight positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spatial parameter of slave BMS positioning by specifying different height relationships relative to battery modules. This parameter variation reduces optical signal interference while establishing clear manufacturing guidelines that balance precision requirements with interference reduction benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances communication security and reduces wiring complexity and interference, while maintaining efficient data transfer and minimizing space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a master BMS configured to receive status information of the battery modules through wireless optical communication with the slave BMSs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

Each of the plurality of slave BMSs and the master BMS may include, an optical transmitter configured to transmit a wireless optical signal; and an optical receiver configured to receive a wireless optical signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical reception: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

The battery pack may further include, a reflector configured to reflect a wireless optical signal received from the optical transmitter of each of the plurality of slave BMSs to the master BMS

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4583238A1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4583238A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4583238A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4583238A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack may be provided. The battery pack may include a plurality of battery modules disposed along rows and columns; a plurality of slave battery management systems (BMSs) configured to disposed between two adjacent battery modules in each row of a plurality of rows among the plurality of battery modules, and configured to detect status information of the two battery modules; and a master BMS configured to receive status information of the plurality of battery modules through wireless optical communication with the plurality of slave BMSs, wherein two slave BMSs among the plurality of slave BMS may be configured to dispose at different heights.