{{TOCrightEx}}
== Introduction ==
Transportation accounts for 41% of the sources of global warming. Electric vehicles can help dramatically reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Battery systems are the key to the success of electric vehicle technology.
This report describes the technology and patenting trends related to the battery systems used in hybrid vehicles. It also describes in detail the various technical challenges faced by designers of these batteries and the innovative solutions proposed for them. The report also covers the techniques used by Nissan and Toyota's vehicles in this domain.
== Rationale ==
[[image:globalwarming.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Global warming emissions by sector]]
== New Developments ==
===Sample visual interactive model===
<gflash>545 375 http://www.dolcera.com/website/assets/HEV_model.swf</gflash>
The new millennium is bringing a millennial change to the family car. A few years back, the key concerns were:
* Pollution,
* '''Generator''': The generator is similar to an electric motor, but it acts only to produce electrical power.
* '''Electric motor''': Advanced electronics allow it to act as a motor as well as a generator. For example, when it needs to, it can draw energy from the batteries to accelerate the car. But acting as a generator, it can slow the car down and return energy to the batteries.
* '''SOC''': The State of Charge of a battery is its available capacity expressed as a percentage of its rated capacity [[Image:Hev layout.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Components of the HEV Battery System]]
== HEV battery system design parameters ==
* What kind of drive system requirements is needed?
These questions are necessary questions because of the variety of battery types available and the differences between them. The chart below lists the characteristics of the most common types of batteries. (Source [http://www.atti-info.org/technology/ev_tech.html])
[[Image:batterytypes.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Battery types by descending order of popularity]]
== Comparison of top 3 batteries used in HEVs ==
During recharging, it is important to maintain the balance of battery. The balance of battery is maintained by controlling battery from overcharging and over discharging.
The battery is controlled by defining State of Charge (SOC) of the battery:
* Upper limit value – overcharge and
* Lower limit value – over discharge
When overcharge is detected, power generation is controlled/cut-off and when over discharge is detected, power supply to electric motor is stopped. Detection is achieved by appropriate sensors.
'''''This report investigates various procedures available/adopted by various assignees in order to maintain balanced battery pack by avoiding overcharge and/or over discharge.
'''''
{| class="wikitable" width="80%" style="font-size:90%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
! Lead Acid !! Advanced Lead Acid !! Nickel-Metal Hydride
|-
| Low cost || Longer lifecycle than conventional lead acid || High cost
|-
| Low energy density || Valve regulated lead/acid (VRLA) batteries showing promise || Higher energy density than lead acid; not as susceptible to heat
|-
| Longer recharging time (6-8 hours) || || Shorter recharging time
|-
| Only fair cycle life || ||
|-
| Can be ruined by completely discharging them || ||
|}
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<br>
== HEV battery system concerns ==
The ultimate goal of HEV can only be achieved with the balance battery pack since the main source of energy is batteries and recharging is carried out on board.
'''Advantages of balance battery pack''':
* Balancing of battery SOC’s increases battery life
* Automated balancing circuitry will decrease overcharging (and gassing) and decrease manual maintenance.
This, in turn, provides:
* Equivalent power range at low cost as conventional vehicle while reducing fuel costs and harmful emissions.
* Twice the travel distance of a conventional vehicle on the same amount of energy.
== Goal ==
This report attempts to summarize various approaches involved in maintaining battery balance. We have selected a few patents, and will show:
* IP activity over the years
* Competitors
* Competitor and Market Landscape
* Technology map
* Technology approaches
=== IP activity over the years ===
[[Image:patentsoveryears.jpg|thumb|center|500px|IP activity over the years]]
=== Assignee wise IP activity ===
Companies with many patents of HEV battery are arranged in decreasing order in the graph given below. Top three players are Nissan motors with (5) patent records to its credit, followed by Toyota with (4) and Acqueous (3).
[[Image:Assignee wise IP.jpg|thumb|center|500px|Assignee wise IP activity]]
=== Competitor and Market Landscape ===
The left graph given below displays the assignee wise IP activity over years, according to the present data the very first patent pertaining to HEV battery charging system was filed by HYBRICON in 1978 but is not in the race anymore. Though NISSAN, AQUEOUS and TOYOTA seems to be ahead in acquiring max. number of patent to their credits, but not active since 2000. GM and HONDA have bagged single-single patent of same age in 2003.
The right graph given below displays the market (countries) eyed by various competitors. The hot market place for most competitors is Japan (17) followed by United States (11) and Germany (04). According to the present data, Nissan seems to be having strong presence in Japan market that rests with 5 patents protected, followed by Aqueous and Toyota.
We will look into their technologies in competitor approaches section latter in the report.
[[Image:Competitor.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Competitor and Market Landscape]]
=== Distribution of patents based on Technology focus ===
[[Image:Distribution.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Distribution of patents based on Technology focus]]
The above pie chart displaying various factors has effect on battery charge and discharge. The numbers indicating the distribution of patents in that area are from selected list of patents. The distribution of patents is based on technology focused in the patent.
* '''Power generation''': Technologies disclosed in patents for modes of power generation in HEV for charging the battery and ways of handling them.
* '''Power management''': Technologies disclosed in patents for managing the battery balance during power generating and/or consuming.
* '''Fluctuating HEV operating mode''': Technologies disclosed in patents for managing battery balance during fluctuating operating modes, especially in composite HEV.
* '''Power supply''': Technology disclosed in patent for starting engine with auxiliary battery current when main battery current is not sufficient to start engine
=== IPMap ===
[[Image:hev_ipmap.jpg|800px]]
== Clustering - Technology focus ==
[[Image:Cluster.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|Clustering - Technology focus]]
== Technology approach ==
=== Major Players ===
In technology approach patent and non-patent literature is used to extract information about the technology profile of various assignees such as
* Years in this activity
* Type of batteries used
* Battery charging system
* Types of HEV (Series (SHV)/Parallel (PHV)/Composite (SPHVS))
* Technological strength based on citation analysis
* Product Vs patent identification
* Battery management solutions proposed (i.e. current control/cut-off system and SOC detection
technique)
* Scientific literature and technology news to strengthen the report, since patent activity is a slow process.
=== Toyota Motors ===
* '''Battery type''': Lead-Acid battery
* '''Battery charging system''': The charge to the DC-battery is provided from the power generated by the generator and the regeneration power from the drive motor at the time of braking.
* '''First approach:'''
[[Image:Toyota.jpg]]
* '''Second approach:'''
[[Image:Toyota2.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|Toyota Motors - Technology Approach2]]
* '''Findings:'''
[[Image:Toyotafindings.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Findings]]
=== Nissan Motors ===
* '''Battery type:-''' Lead-acid and/or Nickel-Hydrogen battery
* '''Battery charging system:-'''
The battery is charged from the power generated by the generator and regeneration power from a motor.Electric motor functions as a generator to charge the battery when a hybrid vehicle is restarted after an idling stop released.
* '''First approach:'''
[[Image:Nissan1.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|Nissan Motors - Technology Approach1]]
* '''Second approach:'''
[[Image:Nissan2.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|Nissan Motors - Technology Approach2]]
* '''Findings:'''
* JP10295045 (1997):- Battery management system, received 21 forward citations from all big names in a span of 5 years and self- cited twice the same technology indicating strong technology strength and building on its own technology.
* Patent and non-patent information indicate that Nissan has focused much on circuit arrangements for charging or depolarizing batteries or for supplying loads from batteries (H02J 7/00).
* Jointly worked with Sony corp. (1998) developing high power density Li-ion battery for parallel HEV.
* Proposed a novel charge/discharge control system based on car navigation information.
{{btot}}
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