Wireless Battery Charger Identification via Current Parameter Matching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial battery charging systems with multiple wireless battery control devices, it is challenging for battery chargers to correctly identify the associated battery, leading to potential confusion and incorrect application of charging profiles.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the battery charger supplying a first current and a wireless interrogation signal with parameter information, allowing the wireless battery control device to respond if the parameters match, and subsequent differentiation with a second current and signal to establish a unique link with the correct device, ensuring accurate identification and communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless battery control devices are used instead of wired connections, then ease of operation and flexibility are improved, but the ability to correctly identify the associated battery deteriorates due to potential confusion among multiple devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connectionVSAvoididentification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by using unique current parameters (magnitude, pulse width, frequency) to differentiate between multiple wireless battery control devices. The charger varies the current parameters in sequential interrogation cycles, and each battery-control device pair responds based on whether the current parameters match what the control device measured, enabling reliable identification despite wireless communication ambiguity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by having wireless battery control devices send response signals back to the charger indicating whether they detected matching current parameters. This feedback loop allows the charger to iteratively narrow down which control device is associated with which battery, resolving the identification problem through multiple rounds of current application and response detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If multiple battery chargers simultaneously charge multiple batteries, then productivity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the correct battery-charger pairing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging throughputVSAvoidpairing detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the identification process into sequential interrogation cycles, each using distinct current parameters. This segmentation allows multiple chargers to operate simultaneously without interference, as each charger follows the same segmented process independently with its associated battery, preventing cross-interference while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary action by having the charger apply current and have the wireless control device measure the parameters before attempting identification. This preliminary measurement and comparison step establishes a reference that simplifies subsequent identification, allowing the system to quickly confirm pairings without complex real-time analysis during charging

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method effectively identifies the correct wireless battery control device associated with the battery charger, eliminating confusion and enabling the application of the optimal charging profile, even in environments with multiple chargers and batteries.

Implementation Method 1

the wireless battery control device measuring parameters relating to the first current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical current measurement: Ohmmeter

Data Source

PatentEP2645523B1Battery charging system and method
Publication Date: 2016.10.05 EH EURO GMBH
  • EP2645523B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2645523B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention provides a method of identifying a battery (102) provided with a wireless battery control device (108), during a battery charging procedure. The method includes connecting the battery to a battery charger (100) and the battery charger supplying a first current to the battery. The wireless battery control device measures parameters relating to the first current. The battery charger generates and sends a first wireless interrogation signal (from 106), the wireless interrogation signal including information relating to parameters of the first current. The first wireless interrogation signal is configured such that a wireless battery control device receiving the interrogation signal compares the information relating to the parameters of the current being received by the associated battery to the information relating to the parameters of the first current that was supplied by the battery charger, and the wireless battery control device sends back a first wireless response signal should the information relating to the parameters match.