Wireless Battery BMS ID Allocation for Faster Secure Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current battery management systems face challenges in allocating identification information to slave BMSs without checking physical or electrical locations and in establishing wireless connections for encrypted communication efficiently, particularly in large battery packs used in electric vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A wireless battery management apparatus that uses a top-level controller to transmit identification information to a master BMS, which then allocates unique IDs to slave BMSs using a predefined rule, allowing them to establish unencrypted connections and later encrypted communications, reducing the time required for connection establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the master BMS checks each slave BMS's electrical connection to battery modules before allocating identification information wirelessly, then the allocation accuracy is improved, but the time required for connection establishment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification information allocation accuracyVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having slave BMSs transmit their connected battery module information to the master BMS before the actual identification information allocation process. This preliminary data collection enables the master BMS to accurately determine which slave BMS is connected to which battery module without requiring time-consuming sequential checking during the allocation phase, thus resolving the contradiction between allocation accuracy and connection establishment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the master BMS establishes encrypted communication connections with all slave BMSs sequentially, then communication security is improved, but the time required for connection establishment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes unencrypted communication connections as a preliminary step before encrypted communication. During this preliminary unencrypted phase, the master BMS quickly identifies all slave BMSs and their corresponding battery modules. This preliminary identification enables subsequent encrypted communication to proceed efficiently with pre-established knowledge of the network topology, resolving the contradiction between security and connection establishment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses unencrypted communication as an intermediary medium to facilitate the establishment of encrypted communication. The unencrypted phase serves as a mediator that enables the master BMS to quickly discover and identify slave BMSs without the overhead of encrypted handshakes, after which secure encrypted channels are established for actual data transmission, thus balancing security requirements with time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If wired connection is used between master BMS and slave BMSs for ID allocation, then the allocation process is simplified, but spatial flexibility and reliability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveID allocation process complexityVSAvoidspatial flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system for ID allocation. The slave BMSs transmit their battery module connection information wirelessly to the master BMS, which then allocates identification information based on this transmitted data. This substitution eliminates the need for physical wire connections while maintaining the simplicity of the allocation process, thereby resolving the contradiction between process simplicity and spatial flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3648234B1Wireless battery management apparatus and battery pack including same
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3648234B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3648234B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3648234B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a wireless battery management system and a battery pack including the same. The wireless battery management system may be operably coupled to a top-level controller, and includes a master BMS and a plurality of slave BMSs. The master BMS is configured to allocate different identification information to the plurality of slave BMSs using a wireless signal according to an identification information allocation command from the top-level controller. Each slave BMS may be configured to set its wireless address and regular ID by receiving the wireless signal when waking up by the top-level controller according to a predefined rule.