Wireless Battery Cell Balancing via Electromagnetic Induction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in electric vehicle battery management systems is to extend battery pack lifetime while minimizing cost and size, as increasing the number of battery cells can lead to increased costs and size, and existing technologies lack efficient methods for balancing and managing battery states across multiple cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery management apparatus with a converter, antenna, and coil for wireless charging or discharging, utilizing near-field communication to acquire and transmit information on voltage, current, and temperature, allowing for battery balancing and state determination, and controlling wireless charging or discharging based on adjacent battery cell information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the number of battery cells is increased to extend battery pack lifetime, then the lifetime of the battery pack increases, but the cost and size of the battery pack increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where battery cells automatically balance their charge states through wireless energy transfer. Each battery cell includes a controller that monitors its own state and communicates with adjacent cells to initiate charging or discharging operations, enabling the battery pack to self-regulate without external intervention and extend overall lifetime
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated circuit boards within each battery cell: monitoring circuits, communication circuits, wireless charging circuits, and control circuits are all integrated into a single cell structure. This merging reduces the need for separate components and interconnections, thereby reducing overall pack size while maintaining extended lifetime through coordinated cell management
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the number of battery cells is increased to extend battery pack lifetime, then the lifetime of the battery pack increases, but the cost of the battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery management system into independent, identical modules for each battery cell. Each cell contains its own monitoring circuit, communication circuit, and wireless charging circuit, all based on standardized designs. This segmentation enables mass production of identical cell units, reducing per-unit manufacturing costs while allowing flexible configuration to achieve desired lifetime without unnecessarily increasing total cell count
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of battery cells dynamically through wireless energy transfer. By adjusting charging/discharging rates and timing based on real-time state monitoring, the system optimizes the utilization of existing cells, extending effective lifetime without requiring additional cells, thereby controlling production costs
3Productivity
If wireless charging or discharging is implemented based on adjacent battery cell information, then battery balancing efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by enabling each battery cell to independently monitor and manage its own state and communicate only with adjacent cells. This localized approach allows rapid, targeted balancing operations without requiring centralized control of all cells, improving balancing efficiency while keeping individual cell circuitry relatively simple and modular
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wireless energy transfer as an intermediary mechanism for battery balancing. Instead of direct electrical connections between cells for balancing, the system uses electromagnetic fields to transfer energy wirelessly between adjacent cells. This intermediary approach simplifies physical connections and reduces complexity of wiring while maintaining high balancing efficiency through controlled energy transfer
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 solution enhances energy density, reduces production and maintenance costs, and extends battery lifetime by efficiently managing battery states and balancing across multiple cells, allowing for scalable and flexible battery management.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna configured to transmit the converted information to an adjacent battery cell and to receive converted information of the adjacent battery cell
Implementation Method 2
a coil configured to wirelessly charge or discharge the adjacent battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are battery management apparatuses and methods. The battery management apparatus includes a converter configured to acquire and convert information of a battery cell, an antenna configured to transmit the converted information to an adjacent battery cell and to receive converted information of the adjacent battery cell, in response to a command of a controller, and a coil configured to wirelessly charge or discharge the adjacent battery cell, in response to another command of the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the wireless charging or the wireless discharging based on information of the adjacent battery cell.