Voltage Detection Apparatus Dark Current Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voltage detection apparatuses experience dispersion of dark currents among voltage detection units, leading to voltage dispersion among battery blocks when in a sleep state for an extended period due to varying leak currents and operation currents.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating current increase units, such as resistors, to stabilize dark currents across voltage detection units by setting a target value for dark currents, which can be adjusted using variable resistors connected to power supply lines or constant voltage power supply circuits, ensuring consistent dark current flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If voltage detection units are used to detect cell voltage at each block, then voltage detection capability is improved, but dark current dispersion occurs among different voltage detection units leading to voltage dispersion among battery blocks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage detection capabilityVSAvoidvoltage consistency among blocks
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrical parameters by introducing current increase units that actively adjust the dark current levels. By modifying the current parameters through these units, the system compensates for the inherent dark current dispersion among different voltage detection units, thereby maintaining voltage consistency across battery blocks while preserving detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The current increase units act as intermediary components between the power supply lines and the voltage detection units. These intermediaries actively regulate and equalize the dark currents flowing through different detection units, preventing the direct transmission of dark current variations to the voltage measurements and thus maintaining block voltage consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the system enters sleep state to reduce power consumption, then energy usage is improved, but dark current dispersion increases over time causing voltage dispersion among blocks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidvoltage consistency among blocks
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The current increase units perform preliminary action by proactively equalizing the dark currents among voltage detection units before significant voltage dispersion can occur during the sleep state. This preventive equalization allows the system to maintain voltage consistency among blocks even during extended periods of low-power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the current increase units continuously monitor and adjust the dark current levels in response to detected variations. This closed-loop control ensures that any tendency toward voltage dispersion during sleep state is counteracted in real-time, maintaining stability while preserving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 reduces the dispersion of dark currents among voltage detection units and suppresses voltage dispersion among battery blocks, maintaining stability even during prolonged sleep states.

Implementation Method 1

resistors, which one ends of which are connected to the power supply lines and the other ends of which are held to the same voltage as that of the other ends of the corresponding blocks, respectively, to the power supply lines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2681569B1Voltage detection apparatus and method of reducing dispersion of dark currents
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP2681569B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2681569B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2681569B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A voltage detection apparatus includes a plurality of voltage detection units, each of which detects cell voltages of plural cells in each of blocks in a battery module. Each of blocks includes the plural cells connected in series. The plurality of voltage detection units are respectively supplied with power via power supply lines connected to the blocks. The plurality of voltage detection units are respectively provided with a plurality of current increase units for increasing dark currents so that the dark currents flowing through the power supply lines respectively become a same target value.