Vehicle Battery Discharge Management via Server Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles face challenges in managing battery discharge, particularly due to dark current flow when turned off, leading to reduced battery life and potential failure to start the vehicle if discharged below a certain level, and existing systems lack efficient communication and adaptive reference level management for battery health.
Innovation Solution
A server and vehicle system that monitors battery state-of-charge, sends notification information about discharge, and adjusts the reference level based on surrounding conditions, ensuring timely charging and extending battery life by communicating battery health data and adjusting discharge thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery is monitored continuously to detect discharge levels, then the reliability of vehicle startup is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring of battery state-of-charge at predetermined intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The controller is configured to check SoC at specific time points and send notifications periodically, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate monitoring coverage to ensure reliable vehicle startup.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery monitoring system serves itself by using the existing battery management infrastructure to monitor its own state. The controller monitors the battery's SoC and autonomously determines when notifications should be sent, eliminating the need for additional dedicated monitoring hardware and reducing overall system energy consumption.
2Loss of information
If notification information is sent frequently to alert users about battery discharge, then the user awareness of battery status is improved, but the loss of time and communication resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system provides differentiated information based on the specific battery state. Different notification messages are sent for different SoC thresholds (e.g., first notification at 70% discharge, second notification at 50% discharge), ensuring users receive appropriate information without excessive communications. This localized approach to notification quality reduces unnecessary communication overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
Notifications are sent at predetermined intervals based on SoC thresholds rather than continuously. The controller monitors battery discharge and sends notifications only when specific conditions are met (e.g., when SoC reaches predetermined levels), reducing communication frequency while maintaining effective user awareness.
3Device complexity
If a fixed reference level is used for battery discharge warnings, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to different environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reference level for battery discharge warnings is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller adjusts the reference level based on detected environmental conditions such as temperature. In cold conditions, the reference level may be raised to account for increased battery discharge rates, while in warm conditions, the standard reference level applies. This dynamic adjustment maintains system simplicity while improving environmental adaptability.
4Measurement precision
If the vehicle communicates continuously with the server, then the data accuracy for battery management is improved, but the energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle communicates with the server periodically rather than continuously. The controller sends battery data (SoC, temperature, discharge rate) at predetermined intervals or when specific thresholds are reached, reducing communication overhead and system complexity while maintaining adequate data accuracy for effective battery management.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle pre-processes battery data locally before transmission to the server. The controller calculates derived parameters such as discharge rate and estimates remaining operational time based on current SoC and historical data, then sends only essential processed information to the server. This preliminary processing reduces communication bandwidth requirements and simplifies the communication system.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a communication device communicating with a server. A battery supplies power to an electronic device. A battery manager monitors a state of charge (SoC) of the battery and generates a trigger signal based on the SoC of the battery. A controller is configured to control the communication device to send information about battery discharge to the server upon reception of the trigger signal, and to control the information about battery discharge to be sent again if it is determined that sending of the information about battery discharge is unavailable.