Voltage Detection Circuit Addressing Across Daisy-Chain Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage measurement devices cannot set a device address for a voltage detection circuit located above a failure point in a communication path between voltage detection circuits, making it impossible to communicate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A voltage measurement device with a daisy chain configuration of voltage detection circuits, each equipped with device address generating and address assignment command generating circuits, allows for the generation and propagation of device addresses across the chain, even in the presence of failures, by using first and second communication circuits to send and receive address assignment commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If voltage detection circuits are connected in a daisy chain configuration, then the system can measure cell voltages of multiple cells, but a failure in the communication path prevents setting device addresses for circuits located above the failure point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single daisy chain communication path into two independent communication paths: a first communication path for transmitting address assignment commands from the controller to voltage detection circuits, and a second communication path for voltage detection circuits to transmit data back to the controller. This segmentation allows address assignment to proceed independently without being blocked by failures in the return path, enabling reliable device address configuration even when part of the communication chain fails.
2Device complexity
If a single communication path is used for address assignment, then the system structure is simple, but communication fails when a failure point is present in the chain
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into separate transmit and receive paths. The first communication circuit handles address assignment command transmission from the controller to the voltage detection circuits, while the second communication circuit handles data transmission from the voltage detection circuits back to the controller. This segmentation isolates the address assignment function from potential failures in the data transmission path, improving overall communication reliability without significantly increasing system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If device addresses cannot be set for circuits above a failure point, then the system cannot communicate with those circuits, but adding redundant communication paths increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a segmented communication architecture where the forward path (controller to voltage detection circuits) and return path (voltage detection circuits to controller) are separated. This allows the controller to assign addresses to all voltage detection circuits through the first communication path regardless of failures in the second communication path, maintaining full communication capability without requiring complex redundant pathways throughout the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage measurement device includes: a plurality of voltage detection circuits which measure cell voltages of a plurality of cells connected in series. Each of the plurality of voltage detection circuits includes: a device address generating circuit which generates a device address according to a first address assignment command received from a preceding voltage detection circuit located at a preceding stage; and an address assignment command generating circuit which generates a second address assignment command according to the first address assignment command, and sends the second address assignment command to a next voltage detection circuit located at a next stage.