EP-4736480-A1 - HIERARCHICAL WIRELESS BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

In an example, a method includes receiving, in a super frame (402A), a first downlink (406A) on a first channel from a wireless master node (302) at a wireless head node (306.1) in a WBMS, where the wireless head node (306.1) is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices (308). The method includes transmitting, in the super frame (402A), a second downlink (408) on a second channel from the wireless head node (306.1 ) to each of the one or more wireless devices (308). The method includes receiving, in the super frame (402A), an uplink (420) from each of the one or more wireless devices (308) at the wireless head node (306.1) on the second channel. The method includes transmitting, in the super frame (402A), an aggregated uplink (424) from the wireless head node (306.1) to the wireless master node (302) on the first channel, where the aggregated uplink (424) includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices (308).

Inventors

• VENKATESWARAN, Shyam Krishnan
• XHAFA, ARITON E.

Assignees

• Texas Instruments Incorporated

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240621

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method, comprising: receiving, in a super frame, a first downlink on a first channel from a wireless master node at a wireless head node in a wireless battery management system (WBMS), wherein the wireless head node is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices; transmitting, in the super frame, a second downlink on a second channel from the wireless head node to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster; receiving, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices at the wireless head node on the second channel; and transmitting, in the super frame, an aggregated uplink from the wireless head node to the wireless master node on the first channel, wherein the aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the super frame is a first super frame, and the method further comprises: receiving, in a second super frame, a third downlink on a third channel from the wireless master node at the wireless head node; transmitting, in the second super frame, a fourth downlink on a fourth channel from the wireless head node to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster; receiving, in the second super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices at the wireless head node on the fourth channel; and transmitting, in the second super frame, a second aggregated uplink from the wireless head node to the wireless master node on the third channel, wherein the second aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.
3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second channel is a configuration channel.
4. 4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless head node is a first wireless head node, the subcluster is a first sub-cluster, and the method further comprises: receiving, in the super frame, the first downlink on the first channel from the wireless master node at a second wireless head node, wherein the second wireless head node is a head node for a second sub-cluster; and transmitting, in the super frame, a third downlink on a third channel from the second wireless head node to each of the one or more wireless devices in the second sub-cluster.
5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless head node is a first wireless head node, the subcluster is a first sub-cluster, the aggregated uplink is a first aggregated uplink, and the method further comprises: transmitting, in the super frame, a second aggregated uplink from a second wireless head node to the wireless master node on the first channel, wherein the second aggregated uplink includes data from each of one or more wireless devices in a second sub-cluster.
6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first channel and the second channel are non-adjacent channels selected with a master hopping sequence.
7. 7. A system, comprising: a wireless head node in a wireless battery management system (WBMS), wherein the wireless head node is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices, and the wireless head node is configured to: receive, in a super frame, a first downlink on a first channel from a wireless master node; transmit, in the super frame, a second downlink on a second channel to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster; receive, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices on the second channel; and transmit, in the super frame, an aggregated uplink to the wireless master node on the first channel, wherein the aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.
8. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the super frame is a first super frame, and the wireless head node is further configured to: receive, in a second super frame, a keep alive downlink on a third channel from the wireless master node.
9. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the keep alive downlink is a first keep alive downlink, and the wireless head node is further configured to: transmit, in the second super frame, a second keep alive downlink to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.
10. 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the aggregated uplink includes data from the wireless head node.
11. 11. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more wireless devices is coupled to at least one battery cell.
12. 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first downlink includes a request for battery cell information from the one or more wireless devices.
13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless head node is configured to delay a measurement for battery cell information for a battery cell coupled to the wireless head node.
14. 14. The system of claim 7, wherein the first downlink and the second downlink are requests for network formation.
15. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless head node is a first wireless head node, and the first wireless head node is configured to complete network formation for the sub-cluster before a second wireless head node begins network formation.
16. 16. A system, comprising: a first wireless head node in a wireless battery management system (WBMS), wherein the first wireless head node is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices, and the first wireless head node is configured to: receive, in a super frame, a first downlink on a first channel from a wireless master node; transmit, in the super frame, a second downlink on a configuration channel to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster; wait for a second wireless head node to transmit a third downlink on the configuration channel; receive, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices on a second channel; and transmit, in the super frame, an aggregated uplink to the wireless master node on the first channel, wherein the aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.
17. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: the second wireless head node in the WBMS, wherein the second wireless head node is a head node for a second sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices, and the second wireless head node is configured to: receive, in the super frame, the first downlink on the first channel from the wireless master node; wait for the first wireless head node to transmit the second downlink on the configuration channel; transmit, in the super frame, the third downlink on the configuration channel to each of one or more wireless devices in the second sub-cluster; receive, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices in the second sub-cluster on a third channel; and transmit, in the super frame, a second aggregated uplink to the wireless master node on the first channel, wherein the second aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the second sub-cluster.
18. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second downlink is a request for network formation for the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.
19. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more wireless devices is coupled to a battery cell.
20. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the super frame is a first super frame, the configuration channel is a first configuration channel, and the first wireless head node is further configured to: receive, in a second super frame, a fourth downlink on a third channel from the wireless master node; and transmit, in the second super frame, a fifth downlink on a second configuration channel to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster.

Description

HIERARCHICAL WIRELESS BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BACKGROUND [0001] Modern vehicles may include multiple battery cells. Information associated with the cells, such as temperature, voltage, and other indicators of cell status and health, may be monitored for vehicular safety and to ensure proper operation. In a conventional wired battery management system, rechargeable batteries are managed by circuitry for the safe and efficient operation of the batteries. Wired communication interfaces can be used to connect a main microcontroller (the main node or master node) to each battery module (the secondary nodes), and each battery module is chained to the rest of the battery modules in a daisy chain. With wired communication interfaces, the main microcontroller cannot monitor and control all the battery modules in parallel without complex wiring. This wiring makes repair or replacement of individual battery cells more difficult, and importantly, adds weight and bulk to the overall system. [0002] A wireless connection between the battery modules and the microcontroller makes management of battery modules more flexible and easier to repair. In a wireless battery management system (WBMS), a microcontroller monitors each battery module and communicates with the battery modules using wireless communication interfaces. The main microcontroller controls all the battery modules using a WBMS protocol. Wireless communication interfaces can suffer from wireless communication channel bandwidth variance, interference, and/or other issues, which would prevent proper monitoring and management in a WBMS. SUMMARY [0003] In accordance with at least one example of the description, a method includes receiving, in a super frame, a first downlink on a first channel from a wireless master node at a wireless head node in a WBMS, where the wireless head node is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices. The method also includes transmitting, in the super frame, a second downlink on a second channel from the wireless head node to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster. The method includes receiving, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices at the wireless head node on the second channel. The method also includes transmitting, in the super frame, an aggregated uplink from the wireless head node to the wireless master node on the first channel, where the aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster. [0004] In accordance with at least one example of the description, a system includes a wireless head node in a WBMS, where the wireless head node is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices. The wireless head node is configured to receive, in a super frame, a first downlink on a first channel from a wireless master node. The wireless head node is also configured to transmit, in the super frame, a second downlink on a second channel to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster. The wireless head node is configured to receive, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices on the second channel. The wireless head node is also configured to transmit, in the super frame, an aggregated uplink to the wireless master node on the first channel, where the aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster. [0005] In accordance with at least one example of the description, a system includes a first wireless head node in a WBMS, where the first wireless head node is a head node for a sub-cluster of one or more wireless devices. The first wireless head node is configured to receive, in a super frame, a first downlink on a first channel from a wireless master node. The first wireless head node is also configured to transmit, in the super frame, a second downlink on a configuration channel to each of the one or more wireless devices in the sub-cluster. The first wireless head node is configured to wait for a second wireless head node to transmit a third downlink on the configuration channel. The first wireless head node is also configured to receive, in the super frame, an uplink from each of the one or more wireless devices on a second channel. The first wireless head node is configured to transmit, in the super frame, an aggregated uplink to the wireless master node on the first channel, where the aggregated uplink includes data from each of the one or more wireless devices in the subcluster. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example system, such as an automotive vehicle, that includes a wireless battery management system (WBMS) in accordance with various examples. [0007] FIG. 2A is an example WBMS in accordance with various examples. [0008] FIG. 2B is an example WBMS in accordance with various examples. [0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a hierarchical WBMS in accordance with v