Switch Diagnosis via Voltage Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secondary battery systems for electric vehicles and energy storage face challenges in diagnosing the state of switching elements like contactors, which can lead to increased volume and cost due to the need for additional components for measurement and diagnosis, affecting the efficiency and energy density of the battery pack.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a plurality of resistors connected in series with a switch in parallel, along with a control unit and ADC converter, to calculate and diagnose the voltage applied to one resistor, allowing for the diagnosis of the switch state based on voltage distribution, reducing the need for additional components and minimizing volume and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate system and additional components for measuring and diagnosing the state of the switching element are provided, then the reliability of switch diagnosis is improved, but the volume and price of the battery pack and battery management system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the switch diagnosis function with the existing battery management system by integrating voltage distribution measurement capabilities. Instead of adding a separate diagnosis system, the invention utilizes the battery management system's existing voltage measurement infrastructure to monitor switch states through voltage drops across series-connected resistors, thereby improving diagnosis reliability without increasing overall system volume
Solution Approach 2:
The battery management system is designed to perform multiple functions: it simultaneously manages battery cell voltage monitoring and switch state diagnosis. By making the voltage measurement system universal, the same hardware infrastructure serves dual purposes - tracking battery health and detecting switch abnormalities through voltage distribution analysis, thus avoiding additional volume requirements
2Reliability
If a separate system and additional components for measuring and diagnosing the state of the switching element are provided, then the reliability of switch diagnosis is improved, but the price of the battery pack and battery management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines switch diagnosis functionality with the existing battery management system architecture. By integrating rather than adding, the invention reuses existing voltage measurement circuits and processing units, eliminating the need for separate diagnosis hardware and thereby reducing component costs and manufacturing expenses
Solution Approach 2:
The battery management system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it monitors both battery cell voltages and switch states using the same measurement infrastructure. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and material requirements, leading to lower manufacturing costs while maintaining diagnostic reliability
3Measurement precision
If multiple resistors are connected in series with the switch in parallel and voltage distribution is used to calculate voltage, then the accuracy of voltage measurement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function by using multiple resistors in series to create voltage division points. Each resistor creates a measurable voltage node that provides information about the overall voltage distribution, allowing accurate voltage measurement through distributed sensing rather than requiring a single high-precision measurement point
Solution Approach 2:
The series resistors act as intermediaries that transform the high voltage signal into a series of lower, more manageable voltage levels that can be safely and accurately measured by the battery management system's ADC converters. This intermediary approach enables precise measurement while protecting the measurement circuitry
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
This approach enables efficient diagnosis of switch states using voltage distribution, reducing the volume and price of the switch diagnosing device while maintaining high efficiency and energy density in secondary battery systems.
Implementation Method 1
calculating voltage applied to one resistor to be measured of the plurality of resistors from the voltage of the battery applied to the plurality of resistors connected in series by using the voltage distribution
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for diagnosing a switch using voltage distribution, and more particularly, to a device and a method for diagnosing a switch using voltage distribution, which connect one or more resistors connected in series with the switch in parallel and calculate voltage applied to one resistor among one or more resistors by using the voltage distribution to diagnose a state of the switch based on the calculated voltage, in order to diagnose the state of the switch positioned on a cathode power supply line connecting a battery and a load.