Wireless Battery Subpack Isolation for Overvoltage Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle battery packs have a large number of cables and lack individual subpack decoupling mechanisms, leading to increased weight and inefficient power management during overvoltage conditions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing RF transmitters and receivers for communication between cell monitoring circuits and subpack microprocessors, along with subpack contactors to decouple individual battery subpacks, reducing weight and enabling selective power disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cables are used to connect cell monitoring circuits to subpack microprocessors, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but battery pack weight and housing size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidbattery pack weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with an RF (radio frequency) wireless communication system. The cell monitoring circuit communicates with the subpack microprocessor via RF transmitter and receiver, eliminating the need for physical cables and thereby reducing battery pack weight and housing size while maintaining communication reliability

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual subpack contactors are added to enable selective decoupling, then power management flexibility improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower management flexibilityVSAvoidbattery system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the battery pack into independent subpacks, each equipped with its own contactor and control circuitry. This segmentation allows individual subpacks to be selectively disconnected from the battery system, providing flexible power management and isolation capabilities without requiring complex centralized control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Reduces battery pack weight and space requirements while allowing selective disconnection of faulty subpacks, enhancing vehicle range and power management efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The RF transmitter sends a voltage value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery cell to the RF receiver

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio frequency transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20260021741A1Battery system
Publication Date: 2026.01.22 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • US20260021741A1 patent drawing
  • US20260021741A1 patent drawing
  • US20260021741A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A battery system includes a battery subpack having first and second battery cells, a cell monitoring circuit, a RF transmitter, an RF receiver, a subpack microprocessor, and a first transceiver. The circuit measures a voltage of a first battery cell. The system includes a master controller having a second transceiver. The RF transmitter sends a voltage value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery cell to the RF receiver. The subpack microprocessor determines the first battery cell has an overvoltage condition based on the voltage value and sends an overvoltage message to the master controller via the first and second transceivers. The subpack microprocessor induces first and second subpack contactors to each have an open operational state when the master controller sends an open command to the subpack microprocessor.