WO2024042125A1

WO2024042125A1 - Wireless module location confirmation in electrical vehicle battery packs

Info

Publication number: WO2024042125A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/073137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard AUDE; Alan CLOHESSY; Sreeharsa Harohalli SRINIVAS; David Bourke
Original assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
Priority date: 2022-08-23
Filing date: 2023-08-23
Publication date: 2024-02-29

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure includes generating a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells, receiving an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells, generating an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells, comparing the baseline network profile and the updated network profile, determining whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold, and identifying at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

Description

WIRELESS MODULE LOCATION CONFIRMATION IN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE BATTERY PACKS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Application No. 63/400,094 filed August 23, 2022, and entitled "WIRELESS MODULE LOCATION CONFIRMATION IN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE BATTERY PACKS," the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of automotive systems, and in particular to battery management system (BMS) solutions in vehicles, e.g., in electric vehicles (EVs).

BACKGROUND

[0003] A battery pack may include a number of modules that are placed in different locations of the pack. Knowing the module positions in an EV battery pack is important. For example, in a vehicle, information associated with battery module positions may allow a BMS controller to ensure that each module (and the battery cell(s) within the module) operates within the prescribed limits, e.g., in terms of voltage and temperature. In another example, thermal regulation may require knowing the location of the module affected by temperature. In service, knowing the location of a faulty module is often required for servicing the battery pack. Modules being misplaced during pack servicing can lead to further issues in subsequent service or difficulty when servicing the pack. Therefore, improvements may be desirable.

SUMMARY

[0004] Wireless BMS (wBMS) solutions based on addition of automated placement verification to the service flow and, potentially, to the manufacturing flow, are disclosed. Automated placement verification allows host controllers to verify the locations of the battery modules after replacement. In one aspect, an example wBMS solution may use wireless network performance metrics to build a packspecific performance map. The network performance metrics such as node-to-node and node-to- manager RSSI may be generated as part of network health reports and a performance map may be built during the module service flow, before replacements, and after replacements. Out-of-sequence modules may then be detected based on comparison of network performance metrics at different times. Techniques such as least mean square curve fitting can be applied to confirm that only replaced nodes have changed and match the locations in the Access Control List (ACL).

[0005] Aspects of the present disclosure includes systems and methods for detecting one or more misplaced batteries including generating a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells, receiving an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells, generating an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells, comparing the baseline network profile and the updated network profile, determining whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold, and identifying at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] To provide a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a schematic illustration of a system implementing a wired BMS solution according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of READ command and response on an isolated serial port interface (isoSPI) bus in a wired BMS solution according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of use of an Access Control List (ACL) in a wireless BMS (wBMS) solution according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a wireless battery pack according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates various aspects of using an ACL in wBMS solutions according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate an example of module misplacement according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of manager-to-node receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) values for dual manager 10-node pack according to aspects of the present disclosure. [0014] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of node-to-node RSSI values for a 10-node pack according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of using network performance characteristics, e.g., Node- to-Node and manager-to-node RSSI, to confirm location of wireless nodes within a pack according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 10A illustrates example results of a proposed algorithm with modules in correct positions according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 10B illustrates example results of a proposed algorithm with misplaced modules according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a method for detecting misplaced batteries according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In wired BMS solutions, the location of a Cell Supervisory Circuit (CSC) in a daisy chain may be fixed and indicates the location of cells/modules in the battery pack. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic illustration of a system implementing a wired BMS solution, while FIG. 2 illustrates READ command and response on a communication bus (such as an isoSPI bus) in a wired BMS solution. In a wired BMS approach, the BMS controller knows the position of each battery cell /module based on the position of the data received from the wired BMS monitors when interrogating the battery pack.

[0020] Specifically, the host controller 100 may transmit interrogating signals to BMS monitors 122-1, 122-2... 122-6 via the communication bus. Each BMS monitor may manage each battery cell. Specifically, the BMS monitors 122-1, 122-2... 122-6 may monitor the health of the battery cells, control the current flows of the battery cells, performing maintenance relating to the battery cells, etc. In response to the interrogating signals, the BMS monitors 122-1, 122-2... 122-6 may respond with response signals. The response signals are received sequentially by the host controller 100 based on the order of the battery cells/modules. For example, the response signal of the first BMS monitor 122-1 may be arranged ahead of the response signal of the second BMS monitor 122-2. Therefore, the host controller 100 may determine the order of the battery cells/modules based on the response signals received. Additionally, the host controller 100 may receive information from the pack monitor 150, such as battery current supplied, voltage supplied, etc.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the data from each BMS monitor may arrive sequentially at the host controller 100. For example, data from the first BMS monitor 122-1 (shown as device 1) may arrive first, followed by data from the second BMS monitor 122-2 (shown as device 2), and so forth and so on. As such, in wired BMS solutions, the host controller 100 may unambiguously determine the location of the modules.

[0022] In a wireless BMS (wBMS), each battery module may have one wireless Cell Supervisory Circuit (CSC) or node. Each battery pack may have one or two network managers and one BMS controller. Wireless nodes and the network managers may form a local-area network based on node ID and the ACL programmed in the network managers during pack assembly (manufacture) and pack service of the battery pack. Since the data from the battery modules may not necessarily arrive at the BMS controller in certain orders, the BMS controller may rely on hardware addresses to determine the locations of the battery modules. FIG. 3 illustrates how, in a wBMS solution, location of the cells/modules in the battery pack may be determined based on the position of wireless node MAC addresses programmed in the ACL.

[0023] In wBMS, the location of the cells/modules in the battery pack may be dependent on the position of node ID in the ACL. During pack servicing, multiple wireless nodes can be replaced, and the ACL updated. A service technician can enter module ID in the incorrect sequence during servicing of multiple modules. The ACL in the network managers may be reprogrammed during pack manufacture/service to accept connections from nodes in that battery pack. There may be no automatic joining available. The network manager may connect to the correct IDs. While incorrect entries can be detected, out-of-sequence cannot. After the replacement of multiple modules in the service stations, there is a risk that the BMS controller has the incorrect map of the cell/module location in the pack, with potential impact to thermal regulation and subsequent pack services. Therefore, wBMS solutions present challenges to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manufacturing and service teams in terms of ensuring that technicians and operators mistakes are detected when locating the battery modules within the battery pack.

[0024] Aspects of the present disclosure provide wBMS solutions based on the addition of automated placement verification to the service flow, and potentially to the manufacturing flow (if not fully automated). In one aspect, an example wBMS solution may use the wireless network performance metrics to build a battery pack-specific performance map. Metrics such as node-to-node and node-to- manager RSSI may be generated as part of network health reports and a performance map may be built during the module service flow, both before replacement(s) and after replacement(s). Out-of-sequence modules may then be detected based on comparison of network performance metrics at different times. Techniques such as least mean square curve fitting can be applied to confirm that only replaced nodes have changed and match the locations in the ACL.

[0025] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the description below and the accompanying drawings.

[0026] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure, in particular aspects of wireless BMS as proposed herein, may be embodied in various manners - e.g., as a method, a system, a computer program product, or a computer-readable storage medium. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware implementation, an entirely software implementation (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system." Functions described in this disclosure may be implemented as an algorithm executed by one or more hardware processing units, e.g., one or more microprocessors, of one or more computers. In various implementations, different steps and portions of the steps of each of the methods described herein may be performed by different processing units. Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable medium(s), preferably non-transitory, having computer-readable program code embodied, e.g., stored, thereon. In various implementations, such a computer program may, for example, be downloaded (updated) to the existing devices and systems (e.g., to the existing analog transmission systems, in particular - analog video transmission systems that use AC-coupling, including transmitters, receivers, and/or their controllers, etc.) or be stored upon manufacturing of these devices and systems.

[0027] The following detailed description presents various descriptions of specific certain implementations. However, the innovations described herein can be embodied in a multitude of different ways, for example, as defined and covered by the claims or select examples. In the following description, reference is made to the drawings where like reference numerals can indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will be understood that elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Moreover, it will be understood that certain implementations can include more elements than illustrated in a drawing and/or a subset of the elements illustrated in a drawing. Further, some implementations can incorporate any suitable combination of features from two or more drawings.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the claims. [0029] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate various aspects of using an ACL in wBMS solutions. In such solutions, the Wireless Managers may reconstitute the array of cells based on location of wireless node MAC ID in the ACL, and not the time of arrival of data it receives from the wireless BMS monitors.

[0030] One aspect of the present disclosure includes entering hardware identifiers of the battery modules, the BMS monitors, and/or the batter cells. The hardware identifiers may be unique identifiers (such as Media Access Control (MAC) identifier (IDs) or other suitable physical addresses). The hardware identifiers may be input into the manager or managers sequentially. FIG. 5 shows the hardware identifiers in the ACL for the nodes shown in FIG. 4. Further, FIG. 5 shows the communications among the nodes (each with a unique hardware identifier) and the network manager of the host controller.

[0031] According to a first option for a service flow, the service procedure may include:

1) Entering/scanning MAC ID of all the pack modules in a specific sequence corresponding to the cell stack sequence before removing wireless module. The service tool software (SW) confirms that the entries corresponds to the current ACL sequence stored on the network managers / BMS controller.

2) Entering/scanning MAC ID of all the pack modules in the same sequence after replacing the faulty battery modules. The service tool SW can confirm that the unchanged modules are still in the right position in the new ACL.

[0032] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate examples of misplaced modules during the replacement schemes above. The risk with the scheme above is that, if a technician replaces multiple modules, e.g., modules 3 and 9 as shown in FIG. 6A and scans B instead of A and A instead of B, the service tool has no means to detect the MAC ID swap in the new ACL as shown in FIG. 6B. The risk increases with the number of modules replaced.

[0033] Specifically, in some aspects of the present disclosure shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, modules 3 and 9 are to be replaced by modules A and B. The ACL may include the hardware addresses of the modules in the order being input by a technician. However, the technician may inadvertently input module B between modules 2 and 4 (to replace module 3) and input module A after module 8 (to replace module 9). However, module A has been installed into the slot for module 3 and module B has been installed into the slot for module 9. Aspects of the present disclosure includes mechanisms for detecting such misplacements as described below.

[0034] Implementations of the present disclosure are based on recognition that wireless network performance metrics, typically available as part of network health reports, may be used to detect out-of-sequence modules, thus addressing wBMS challenges described above. In particular, methods and systems for comparing network performance metrics to detect out-of-sequence modules are disclosed. Example network performance metrics may include node-to-node RSSI and node-to- manager RSSI. RSSI is a measurement of the power present in a received radio signal (typically, the closer the higher if direct line of sight). Node health reports contain average manager-to-node RSSI and node-to-node RSSI. A wBMS may generate network data packets and network report packets. Nodes and managers may transmit health report packets periodically, e.g., every one minute, to enable network health assessment. Node-to-node RSSI and manager-to-node RSSI give many reference points for an example use case shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. An illustration of a method of using network performance characteristics, e.g., Node-to-Node and manager-to-node RSSI, to confirm location of wireless nodes within a pack, and therefore node MAC ID in ACL, is provided in FIG. 9.

[0035] In some implementations, a solution may be implemented in a host controller where, as a part of the vehicle diagnostic, the BMS controller runs a routine that takes a snapshot of network performance (node-to-node RSSI). After replacing modules, the BMS controller repeats the routine to compare with the previous network performance snapshot. Techniques such as least mean square curve fitting, nearest neighbour, clustering can be applied to this performance data to confirm only replaced nodes have changed and match the locations in the ACL.

[0036] FIG. 10A illustrates example results of a proposed algorithm with modules in correct positions, while FIG. 10B illustrates example results of a proposed algorithm with modules 2 and 7 swapped. Anomalies are seen at individual RSSI measurements (highlighted by slash patterns), grouped module measurements and system level measurements, and may now be corrected. The proposed solution is based on comparing network performance metrics available as part of the network health reports to detect out-of-sequence modules.

[0037] In some detailed aspects of the present disclosure, returning to FIG. 4, an aspect of the present disclosure includes a host controller 400 configured to monitor the battery health and operations of a battery pack 410. The battery pack 410 may include a plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n configured to monitor a plurality of batteries 430-1, 430-2... 430-n. The battery pack 410 may include a pack monitor 450 configured to monitor a current level and/or a voltage level supplied by the battery pack 410. In some aspects, the host controller 400 may communicate wirelessly with the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n via one or more radio integrated circuits (ICs) 412. Each node and the associated battery may form a battery module of a plurality of battery modules 440-1, 440-2... 440-n. One or more of the battery modules of the plurality of battery modules 440-1, 440-2... 440-n may be replaceable (e.g., when defective, unable to hold charge, damaged, etc.).

[0038] In one aspect of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n may include a radio IC configured to wireless communicate with the radio ICs of other nodes, and/or with the one or more radio ICs 412. Each of the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n may include a BMS monitor configured to monitor the health (e.g., voltage, current, temperature, etc.) of the corresponding battery of the plurality of batteries 430-1, 430-2... 430-n and/or determine the strengths of signals received by the radio IC of the corresponding node.

[0039] During operation, and before the battery replacement, the radio ICs of the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n may transmit signals to each other, and/or the radio ICs 412 of the battery pack 410. Each radio IC of the corresponding plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n may receive the signals from the other radio ICs. The radio ICs and/or the BMS monitors of the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n may measure and/or record the signal properties of the transmitted signals from each of the neighbouring radio ICs. As such, the radio ICs and/or the BMS monitors of the plurality of nodes 420- 1, 420-2... 420-n may assist in establishing "baseline" signal properties associated with each of the neighbouring radio ICs. Examples of the signal properties may include signal intensity (e.g., received signal strength indicator), frequency responses (e.g., signal intensities for different transmission frequencies), signal phase information, and/or other relevant properties.

[0040] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n may transmit the signal properties (via the radio IC or the BMS monitor) to the host controller 400 via the one or more radio ICs 412. Consequently, the host controller 400 may establish the baseline signal properties associated with the plurality of battery modules 440-1, 440-2... 440-n. Specifically, the host controller 400 may establish the transmission/reception signal properties among the plurality of battery modules 440-1, 440-2... 440-n, such as signal strengths, frequency responses, and/or other properties. As such, the baseline signal properties may be associated with the locations of the module in the battery pack 410.

[0041] During module replacement, one or more replacement modules may be inadvertently misplaced. Here, misplacement means that one or more replacement modules are registered with ACL of the host controller 400 to be placed in a first location in the battery pack 410, but are mistakenly placed in a second location that is different than the first location. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the host controller 400 may detect the misplacement as described below. After replacement, the host controller 400 may instruct the modules (including the unchanged modules and the newly replaced modules) to transmit signals to each other to establish updated baseline signal properties. The updated baseline signal properties may be compared to the baseline signal properties previously established. If there is any discrepancy in the signal properties that exceeds a certain threshold, the host controller 400 may determine one or more module misplacements.

[0042] In one aspect, the host controller 400 may determine that the signal strengths of two replaced modules being higher or lower than the previous signal strengths by a threshold signal strength value. As such, the host controller 400 may determine that the two replaced modules are misplaced.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, in some aspects of the present disclosure, the host controller 400 may receive signals transmitted by the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n (e.g., via the one or more radio ICs 412). The host controller 400 may establish baseline signal properties based on the signals transmitted by the plurality of nodes 420-1, 420-2... 420-n. The baseline signal properties may be associated with the host controller 400, one or more of the nodes, or a combination thereof.

[0044] In one example aspect of the present disclosure, the radio IC and/or the BMS monitor for the node 420-2 may sequentially receive transmitted signals from the remaining nodes 420-1, 420-3, 420-4... 420-n. Based on the received signals transmitted from the neighbouring nodes, the radio IC and/or the BMS monitor for the node 420-2 may determine that the signal strength of the signal(s) from the node 420-3 is the highest (being the closest to the node 420-2 without obstruction), the signal strength of the signal(s) from the node 420-1 is the next highest (being the closest to the node 420-2, but the signal(s) may be obstructed by wires and/or other infrastructures within the battery pack). The radio IC and/or the BMS monitor for the node 420-2 may determine that the signal strength of the signal(s) from the node 420-n is the lowest (being the farthest from the node 420-2), and the signal strength of the signal(s) from the node 420-4 is the second lowest. In one instance, the signal strengths of the signals associated with the nodes 420-1, 420-3, 420-4, and 420-n may be -45 decibel (dB), -48 dB, -52 dB, and -54 dB, respectively.

[0045] Next, the modules 440-1, 440-4 may be replaced. Prior to the replacement, the module 440-1 may be placed at location A and the module 440-4 may be placed at location B. A replacement module 1 (not shown) may be registered in the ACL of the host controller 400 as replacing the module 440-1 (at location A), and a replacement module 2 (not shown) may be registered in the ACL as replacing the module 440-4 (at location B). However, during the replacement, the replacement module 1 is placed at location B and the replacement module 2 is placed at location A. As such, the host controller 100 may have the incorrect information regarding the locations of the replacement modules. [0046] Next, the host controller 400 may establish the updated baseline signal properties for the module 440-2. Specifically, the radio IC and/or the BMS monitor for the node 420-2 may determine that the signal strengths of the signals associated with the replacement module 1 (as registered, but is actually replacement module 2), the module 440-3, the replacement module 2 (as registered, but is actually replacement module 1), and the module 440-n may be -53 dB, -48 dB, -44 dB, and -54 dB, respectively. The module 440-2 may transmit the information to the host controller 400. The host controller 400 may identify two signal strength values that have deviated above a threshold value of 3 dB. Namely, the signal strength of the received signals from the replacement module 1 (as registered in the ACL) is -53 dB, which is 8 dB lower than the previously measured -45 dB. The signal strength of the received signals from the replacement module 1 (as registered in the ACL) is -44 dB, which is 8 dB higher than the previously measured -52 dB. Based on the discrepancies, the host controller 400 may determine that the replacement modules 1 and 2 have been misplaced.

[0047] FIG. 11 illustrates a method 1100 of detecting one or more misplaced battery according to aspects of the present disclosure. The method 1100 may be performed by the host controller 400, the battery pack 410, the one or more radio ICs 412, and/or subcomponents of the host controller 400, the battery pack 410, or the one or more radio ICs 412.

[0048] At 1105, the method 1100 may generate a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells. For example, the host controller 400 may be configured to, and/or provide means for, generating a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells.

[0049] At 1110, the method 1100 may receive an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells. For example, the host controller 400 may be configured to, and/or provide means for, receiving an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells.

[0050] At 1115, the method 1100 may generate an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells. For example, the host controller 400 may be configured to, and/or provide means for, generating an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells. [0051] At 1120, the method 1100 may compare the baseline network profile and the updated network profile. For example, the host controller 400 may be configured to, and/or provide means for, comparing the baseline network profile and the updated network profile.

[0052] At 1125, the method 1100 may determine whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold. For example, the host controller 400 may be configured to, and/or provide means for, determining whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold.

[0053] At 1130, the method 1100 may identify at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold. For example, the host controller 400 may be configured to, and/or provide means for, identifying at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

[0054] Aspects of the present disclosure includes a method for detecting one or more misplaced batteries including generating a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells, receiving an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells, generating an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells, comparing the baseline network profile and the updated network profile, determining whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold, and identifying at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

[0055] Aspects of the present disclosure includes the method above, wherein generating the baseline network profile comprises transmitting, from each battery cell to the remaining battery cells of the first plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the first plurality of wireless signals, and receiving, at each battery cell from the remaining batter cells of the first plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the first plurality of wireless signals, and generating an updated network profile comprises: transmitting, from each battery cell to the remaining battery cells of the second plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the second plurality of wireless signals, and receiving, at each battery cell from the remaining batter cells of the second plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the second plurality of wireless signals. [0056] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein generating the baseline network profile further comprises measuring a first plurality of intensity profiles of the first plurality of wireless signals and generating an updated network profile further comprises measuring a second plurality of intensity profiles of the second plurality of wireless signals.

[0057] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein the first plurality of intensity profiles includes first received signal strength indicators (RSSIs) of the first plurality of wireless signals and the second plurality of intensity profiles include second RSSIs of the second plurality of wireless signals.

[0058] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein transmitting the first plurality of wireless signals comprises transmitting the first plurality of wireless signals at a plurality of frequencies and transmitting the second plurality of wireless signals comprises transmitting the second plurality of wireless signals at the plurality of frequencies.

[0059] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein the plurality of frequencies span a range from 2.4 Gigahertz to 2.48 Gigahertz.

[0060] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein determining whether the difference exceeds the threshold comprises identifying a first signal strength associated with a first wireless signal, of the first plurality of wireless signals, transmitted from the at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells to a receiving battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells, identifying a second signal strength associated with a second wireless signal, of the second plurality of wireless signals, transmitted from the at least one new battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells to the receiving battery cell, and determining that a signal strength difference between the first signal strength and the second signal strength is larger than a threshold signal strength.

[0061] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein identifying the at least one misplaced battery cell comprises identifying the at least one new battery cell as the at least one misplaced battery cell.

[0062] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein the at least one battery cell includes at least one battery cell module and the at least one new battery cell include at least one new battery cell module.

[0063] Aspects of the present disclosure includes any of the methods above, wherein the identifying the at least one misplaced battery cell includes identifying at least two misplaced battery cells. [0064] Principles and advantages discussed herein can be used in any device or system that may need location confirmation of wireless nodes within EV battery packs. It is to be understood that not necessarily all objects or advantages mentioned herein may be achieved in accordance with any particular implementation described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain implementations may be configured to operate in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0065] In one example implementation, any number of electrical circuits configured to implement various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented on a board of an associated electronic device. The board can be a general circuit board that can hold various components of the internal electronic system of the electronic device and, further, provide connectors for other peripherals. More specifically, the board can provide the electrical connections by which the other components of the system can communicate electrically. Any suitable processors (inclusive of digital signal processors (DSPs), microprocessors, supporting chipsets, etc.), computer-readable non-transitory memory elements, etc. can be suitably coupled to the board based on particular configuration needs, processing demands, computer designs, etc. Other components such as external storage, additional sensors, controllers for audio/video display, and peripheral devices may be attached to the board as plug-in cards, via cables, or integrated into the board itself. In various implementations, the functionalities described herein may be implemented in emulation form as software or firmware running within one or more configurable (e.g., programmable) elements arranged in a structure that supports these functions. The software or firmware providing the emulation may be provided on non- transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to allow a processor to carry out those functionalities.

[0066] In another example implementation, the electrical circuits configured to implement various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented as stand-alone modules (e.g., a device with associated components and circuitry configured to perform a specific application or function) or implemented as plug-in modules into application specific hardware of electronic devices. Note that particular implementations of the present disclosure may be readily included in a system on chip (SOC) package, either in part, or in whole. An SOC represents an integrated circuit (IC) that integrates components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio frequency functions: all of which may be provided on a single chip substrate. Other implementations may include a multi-chip-module (MCM), with a plurality of separate ICs located within a single electronic package and configured to interact closely with each other through the electronic package. In various other implementations, the digital filters may be implemented in one or more silicon cores in Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FPGAs, and other semiconductor chips.

[0067] It is also imperative to note that all of the specifications, dimensions, and relationships outlined herein (e.g., the number of processors, logic operations, etc.) have only been offered for purposes of example and teaching only. Such information may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, or the scope of the appended claims. The specifications apply only to one non-limiting example and, accordingly, they should be construed as such. In the foregoing description, example implementations have been described with reference to particular arrangements of components. Various modifications and changes may be made to such implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The description and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

[0068] Note that with the numerous examples provided herein, interaction may be described in terms of two, three, four, or more electrical components. However, this has been done for purposes of clarity and example only. It should be appreciated that the system can be distributed or consolidated in any suitable manner. Along similar design alternatives, any of the illustrated components, modules, and elements of the present drawings may be combined in various possible configurations, all of which are clearly within the broad scope of the present disclosure. In certain cases, it may be easier to describe one or more of the functionalities of a given set of flows by only referencing a limited number of electrical elements. It should be appreciated that the electrical circuits of the figures and its teachings are readily scalable and can accommodate a large number of components, as well as more complicated/sophisticated arrangements and configurations. Accordingly, the examples provided should not limit the scope or inhibit the broad teachings of the electrical circuits as potentially applied to a myriad of other architectures.

[0069] Note that in the present disclosure references to various features (e.g., elements, structures, modules, components, steps, operations, characteristics, etc.) included in "one implementation", "example implementation", "an implementation", "another implementation", "some implementations", "various implementations", "other implementations", "alternative implementation", and the like are intended to mean that any such features are included in one or more implementations of the present disclosure, but may or may not necessarily be combined in the same implementations. [0070] Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications may be ascertained to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications as falling within the scope of the appended claims. Note that all optional features of any of the apparatus, device, or system described above may also be implemented with respect to the method or processes of using or operating said apparatus device, or system, and specifics in the examples provided for any of the apparatus, device, or system described herein may be used anywhere in corresponding methods or processes, and vice versa.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of analyzing a battery system, comprising: generating a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells; receiving an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells; generating an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells; comparing the baseline network profile and the updated network profile; determining whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold; and identifying at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: generating the baseline network profile comprises: transmitting, from each battery cell to the remaining battery cells of the first plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the first plurality of wireless signals; and receiving, at each battery cell from the remaining batter cells of the first plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the first plurality of wireless signals; and generating an updated network profile comprises: transmitting, from each battery cell to the remaining battery cells of the second plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the second plurality of wireless signals; and receiving, at each battery cell from the remaining batter cells of the second plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the second plurality of wireless signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: generating the baseline network profile further comprises measuring a first plurality of intensity profiles of the first plurality of wireless signals; and generating an updated network profile further comprises measuring a second plurality of intensity profiles of the second plurality of wireless signals.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the first plurality of intensity profiles includes first received signal strength indicators (RSSIs) of the first plurality of wireless signals; and the second plurality of intensity profiles include second RSSIs of the second plurality of wireless signals.

5 The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein: transmitting the first plurality of wireless signals comprises transmitting the first plurality of wireless signals at a plurality of frequencies; and transmitting the second plurality of wireless signals comprises transmitting the second plurality of wireless signals at the plurality of frequencies.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of frequencies span a range from 2.4 Gigahertz to 2.48 Gigahertz.

7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein determining whether the difference exceeds the threshold comprises: identifying a first signal strength associated with a first wireless signal, of the first plurality of wireless signals, transmitted from the at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells to a receiving battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells; identifying a second signal strength associated with a second wireless signal, of the second plurality of wireless signals, transmitted from the at least one new battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells to the receiving battery cell; and determining that a signal strength difference between the first signal strength and the second signal strength is larger than a threshold signal strength.

8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein identifying the at least one misplaced battery cell comprises identifying the at least one new battery cell as the at least one misplaced battery cell.

9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein: the at least one battery cell includes at least one battery cell module; and the at least one new battery cell include at least one new battery cell module.

10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the identifying the at least one misplaced battery cell includes identifying at least two misplaced battery cells.

11. A battery system, comprising: a first plurality of battery cells; and a controller configured to: generate a baseline network profile based on a first plurality of signal characteristics associated with a first plurality of wireless signals exchanged among a first plurality of battery cells; receive an indication that at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells has been replaced by at least one new battery cell to form a second plurality of battery cells; generate an updated network profile based on a second plurality of signal characteristics associated with the second plurality of wireless signals exchanged among the second plurality of battery cells; compare the baseline network profile and the updated network profile; determine whether a difference between the baseline network profile and the updated network profile exceeds a threshold; and identify at least one misplaced battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells based on the difference exceeding the threshold.

12. The battery system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: generate the baseline network profile by: transmitting, from each battery cell to the remaining battery cells of the first plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the first plurality of wireless signals; and receiving, at each battery cell from the remaining batter cells of the first plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the first plurality of wireless signals; and generate an updated network profile by: transmitting, from each battery cell to the remaining battery cells of the second plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the second plurality of wireless signals; and receiving, at each battery cell from the remaining batter cells of the second plurality of battery cells of the battery system, the second plurality of wireless signals.

13. The battery system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to: generate the baseline network profile by measuring a first plurality of intensity profiles of the first plurality of wireless signals; and generate an updated network profile by measuring a second plurality of intensity profiles of the second plurality of wireless signals.

14. The battery system of claim 13, wherein: the first plurality of intensity profiles includes first received signal strength indicators (RSSIs) of the first plurality of wireless signals; and the second plurality of intensity profiles include second RSSIs of the second plurality of wireless signals.

15 The battery system of any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the controller is further configured to: transmit the first plurality of wireless signals by transmitting the first plurality of wireless signals at a plurality of frequencies; and transmit the second plurality of wireless signals by transmitting the second plurality of wireless signals at the plurality of frequencies.

16. The battery system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of frequencies span a range from 2.4 Gigahertz to 2.48 Gigahertz.

17. The battery system of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the difference exceeds the threshold by: identifying a first signal strength associated with a first wireless signal, of the first plurality of wireless signals, transmitted from the at least one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells to a receiving battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells; identifying a second signal strength associated with a second wireless signal, of the second plurality of wireless signals, transmitted from the at least one new battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells to the receiving battery cell; and determining that a signal strength difference between the first signal strength and the second signal strength is larger than a threshold signal strength.

18. The battery system of any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the controller is further configured to identify the at least one misplaced battery cell by identifying the at least one new battery cell as the at least one misplaced battery cell.

19. The battery system of any of claims 11 to 18, wherein: the at least one battery cell includes at least one battery cell module; and the at least one new battery cell include at least one new battery cell module.

20. The battery system of any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the controller is further configured to identify at least two misplaced battery cells.