Battery Watchdog With Periodic BMS Wake-Up for Stored Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems are non-operational during storage due to lack of power and communication, leading to inefficient storage and potential safety risks due to neglect of environmental monitoring.
Innovation Solution
The battery watchdog system provides a portable power supply and enables periodic data acquisition from batteries during storage, using sensors and algorithms to monitor battery health and environmental conditions, and communicates data via diverse protocols to a central server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery management system is powered during storage, then battery monitoring capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery management system is activated periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously during storage. The controller powers on the BMS, retrieves battery information through communication interfaces, stores the data, and then powers off the BMS, repeating this cycle throughout the storage period. This periodic operation ensures monitoring capability while minimizing power consumption from the external power source.
2Loss of information
If battery management system is activated continuously, then data collection completeness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic activation with predetermined time intervals to balance data collection completeness with system simplicity. The controller manages the periodic power cycling of the BMS, coordinating with communication interfaces and memory storage to ensure adequate monitoring without requiring complex continuous operation infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery management system uses its own internal sensors and processing capabilities to generate and store battery information during periodic activation. The system leverages existing BMS components (sensors, communication interfaces, memory) rather than adding external monitoring equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining data collection effectiveness.
3Reliability
If external power source is used to power BMS during storage, then monitoring reliability is improved, but dependency on external infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a power conversion circuit as an intermediary between the external power source and the BMS. This circuit converts external power (from various sources including wall outlets, batteries, or power banks) into the appropriate voltage and current levels required by the BMS, enabling flexible external power provisioning while protecting the BMS from power source variations and reducing direct infrastructure dependency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a battery watchdog system for monitoring and managing batteries during short or extended storage and transit while ensuring low drain on a client battery being monitored. The battery watchdog system periodically powers the battery management system (BMS) of the client battery to retrieve battery information. The battery watchdog system can also collect battery information from other sensors (e.g., motion, ambient temperature, humidity, current, voltage, data integrity, and global positioning). The system can integrate data from the client battery and its own sensors to exploit algorithms and assess the battery's state, ambient conditions, potential hazards, and adherence to specific storage or transportation conditions. Further, the battery watchdog system can come equipped with onboard visual and audible indicators. And, in case of hazardous conditions, the system can autonomously activate its indicators to alert personnel.