Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a vehicle battery pack and more particularly to detecting and responding to unauthorized access to vehicle battery pack.
BACKGROUND
The market for electric two-wheelers, such as electric motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles, has experienced significant growth in recent years due to factors such as environmental sustainability, reduced operating costs, and increased urbanization. As this market expands, the technology underpinning electric two-wheelers, particularly battery technology, plays a crucial role in their efficiency, safety, and overall user satisfaction.
Electric two-wheelers typically rely on rechargeable batteries, most commonly lithium-ion batteries, to provide power for their propulsion systems. These batteries represent a substantial component of the vehicle's overall cost, weight, and performance characteristics, making them a focal point for innovation and security.
However, this emphasis on battery technology brings with it significant risks related to tampering and reverse engineering. Battery tampering involves unauthorized attempts to manipulate or alter the battery's structure, components, or management systems, which can lead to dangerous situations and compromise the vehicle's performance and reliability. Reverse engineering, on the other hand, involves dissecting and analyzing the battery or its management systems to understand its design and functionality, potentially leading to intellectual property theft, counterfeit products, or unauthorized modifications.
Similarly, reverse engineering poses significant threats to manufacturers and the broader electric two-wheeler industry. By reverse-engineering a battery or its management system, third parties may create counterfeit products or unauthorized
3
modifications, which can introduce safety risks and reduce market trust in electric two-wheelers. It can also lead to intellectual property theft, damaging a manufacturer's competitive edge and leading to significant financial losses.
Existing techniques in the prior art for detecting battery tampering involve manual inspection, such as checking for a broken manufacturer's seal, or using circuits with mechanical switches. However, manual observation is an inefficient approach, while circuits with mechanical switches tend to be complex and prone to malfunctions.
Therefore, there is a need for a more effective and efficient method to detect battery tampering that addresses these aforementioned shortcomings.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
1.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide tamper-resistant system and method for battery pack of an electric vehicle.
2.
Another objective of the present invention is to efficiently detect unauthorized access to a vehicle's battery pack using a specialized casing opening detection mechanism.
3.
Another objective of the present invention is to implement a mechanism that disables specific functions of the battery pack to prevent malfunctions and potential damage caused by unauthorized access and tampering with the internal components.
4.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a real-time alert system for vehicle owners and fleet managers through the cloud-based server, enabling prompt response to unauthorized access attempts.
4
5.
Another objective of the present invention is to protect against reverse engineering, ensuring that the security measures remain effective and proprietary technology is safeguarded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to provide a method for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to a vehicle battery pack comprising: opening a casing of a battery pack by an unauthorized personnel, receiving an ambient light on an optical sensor mounted to a Battery Management System (BMS) of the battery pack, triggering the said optical sensor in response to the ambient light, detecting an activation of the optical sensor by a casing opening detection mechanism of a microcontroller, recording and storing an occurrence of the battery pack casing opening in a microcontroller memory, communicating the occurrence of the battery pack casing opening to a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) by the microcontroller, transmitting information regarding the battery pack casing opening from the VCU to a cloud-based server, detecting tampering of the battery pack by unauthorized personnel based on a received information, disabling at least one function of the battery pack by an action enforcement mechanism of a microcontroller to prevent malfunctioning caused by unauthorized access and tampering of components inside the battery pack, mandating the vehicle to be brought to an authorized service center to re-enable the battery pack for vehicle use, inspecting the battery pack by an authorized personnel to determine the tampering which would affect normal functioning of the vehicle and deciding by the authorized personnel whether the battery pack shall be enabled or disabled permanently based on an outcome of the inspection.
As per the first embodiment of the present invention, the recorded unauthorized access to battery or a tamper alert remains registered regardless of attempts to reset it through the microcontroller or by cycling the power to the BMS.
5
As per the second embodiment of the present invention, the inspection of the battery pack by authorized personnel comprises conducting diagnostic tests to assess an integrity and functionality of the battery pack components.
As per the third embodiment of the present invention, the re-enabling of the battery pack for vehicle use involves resetting security protocols by authorized personnel.
As per the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a decision to permanently disable the battery pack is based on a severity of tampering detected and potential risks to vehicle safety and performance.
As per the fifth embodiment of the present invention, said method comprises logging and timestamping each occurrence of the battery pack casing opening.
As per the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a system for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to a vehicle battery pack comprising a casing opening detection mechanism configured to detect an opening of a battery pack casing by an unauthorized personnel, an action enforcement mechanism configured to disable at least one function of a battery pack to prevent malfunctioning caused by unauthorized access and tampering of components inside the battery pack, an optical sensor mounted to a Battery Management System (BMS) of the battery pack configured to activate by an ambient light, a microcontroller comprising the casing opening detection mechanism, the action enforcement mechanism and a memory, configured to receive signals from the casing opening detection mechanism, the action enforcement mechanism and the optical sensor, record and store occurrences of the battery pack casing opening, a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) configured to receive information about the battery pack casing opening from the microcontroller, a cloud-based server configured to receive information from the VCU regarding the battery pack casing opening and to detect battery tampering based on the received information.
6
As per the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the action enforcement mechanism disables at least one function of the battery pack upon detection of unauthorized access and tampering, the vehicle must be brought to an authorized service center for re-enabling the battery pack for vehicle use.
As per the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the authorized personnel of the authorized service center is configured to inspect the battery pack for tampering and determine whether the battery pack shall be enabled or permanently disabled based on an inspection outcome
As per the nineth embodiment of the present invention, the BMS is mounted on top of the battery pack, both of which are enclosed within a casing, rendering an interior of the battery pack inaccessible without opening said casing.
As per the tenth embodiment of the present invention, the optical sensor is mounted such that it receives the ambient light whenever the above-mentioned casing is opened by unauthorized personnel.
As per the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the optical sensor is selected from one or more of photodiode, photocell, phototransistor, photomultiplier tube (PMT), charged-coupled device (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, light-dependent resistor (LDR) etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:
FIG.1(a) illustrates a vehicle with a battery pack, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG.1(b) is a battery pack with a casing, in accordance with the present invention.
7
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to vehicle battery pack, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to vehicle battery pack, in accordance with the present invention.
Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed
8
or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, members, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.
The present invention discloses a system and method for detecting unauthorized tampering with a vehicle battery. The invention focuses on a battery pack with a security feature designed to detect unauthorized access attempts. The system uses a photoelectric sensor (PES) as an optical sensor located within the Battery Management System (BMS) compartment. The system is engineered to trigger an alert when someone attempts to open the battery pack without authorization.
Referring to figure 1(a) and figure 1(b), a vehicle with a battery pack and a battery pack with a battery management system (BMS) housed in a casing is shown respectively. The vehicle (100) mainly comprises of the BMS (104), a vehicle control unit (VCU) (206) and the battery pack (102). The battery pack (102) comprises a plurality of individual battery cells arranged in a configuration that optimizes space, thermal management, and electrical connections wherein said battery pack (102) is mounted on a cradle frame (108). The battery cells may be of any suitable type, such
9
as lithium-ion, lithium-metal or any others type depending on the requirements. The BMS (104) is located on the top of the battery pack (102), providing convenient access for maintenance and monitoring. It includes various functionalities such as battery cell monitoring, battery protection and communication etc. The BMS (104) monitors the voltage, current, and temperature of each individual cell within the pack to ensure that the cells are operating within their specified ranges in order to prevent overcharging, over-discharging, or overheating. Further, the BMS (104) incorporates various protection mechanisms to safeguard the battery pack (102) such as overvoltage protection, undervoltage protection, overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, and overtemperature protection. Also, the BMS (104) is equipped with communication interfaces to relay critical information to external systems, such as a vehicle's onboard computer or a power management system and enables real-time monitoring and integration with other systems. Furthermore, the battery casing (106) provides a robust and secure enclosure for the battery pack (102) and BMS (104). The casing (106) is designed to withstand mechanical stress, environmental factors, and thermal fluctuations. Further, the battery pack (102) comprises a battery disconnect switch (222) which disconnects the battery (102) from a motor (224) and a motor controller (226).
Referring to figure 2, a block diagram for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to vehicle battery pack is illustrated. The BMS (104) of the vehicle (100) comprises an optical sensor (202), a reset mechanism (218) and input power source (220). The optical sensor (202) is mounted on a Battery Management System (BMS) (104) of a battery pack (102) or in other words the optical sensor (202) is mounted within the BMS compartment, wherein said optical sensor (202) is configured to be triggered by an ambient light. The optical sensor (202) is positioned to detect changes in ambient light when a casing (106) of the BMS (102) is opened. Normally, the BMS area is sealed and remains dark, ensuring that the optical sensor (202) is not activated unless the casing (106) is removed. In particular embodiment of the present invention,
10
the optical sensor (202) is a photo electric sensor (PES). However, other optical sensors such as photodiode, photocell, phototransistor, photomultiplier tube (PMT), charged-coupled device (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, light-dependent resistor (LDR) etc may be used for serving the purpose. In the present invention, when an unauthorized individual attempts to open the battery pack (102), it is must to remove the BMS casing (106) first. There is no light entering the area where the optical sensor (202) is mounted when the battery pack (102) is in completely assembled condition. Upon lifting the casing (106), ambient light enters the BMS compartment, triggering the optical sensor (202). This light-based detection mechanism provides a reliable indication of tampering or unauthorized access.
Further, the optical sensor (202) is connected to a microcontroller (204) which is mounted to the BMS (102) wherein the said microcontroller (204) is configured to detect and record an activation of the optical sensor (202) by continuously monitoring it. The microcontroller (204) comprises a casing opening detection mechanism (210), an action enforcement mechanism (212) and a memory (214). When the unauthorized person opens the casing (106), the optical sensor (202) is triggered by ambient light, the casing opening detection mechanism (210) detects that this is a casing opening event and initiates a predefined process of informing. The BMS (102) records the said event in its said internal memory (214) with data such as the time of the casing opening event and the optical sensor's response. Moreover, the action enforcement mechanism (212) is configured to disable at least one function of the battery pack (102) in order to prevent malfunctioning caused by unauthorized access and tampering of components inside the battery pack (102). Further, the microcontroller (204) is provided with the reset mechanism (218) which is normally present to get the microcontroller (204) to a known state whenever it gets struck at any single point in a firmware program. The microcontroller (204) is powered by the input power source (220) as shown in the figure.
11
Furthermore, the microcontroller (204) is connected to a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) (206) wherein the VCU (206) is configured to receive an input from the microcontroller (204) of an occurrence of the opening of the casing of the battery pack. The detection of the casing opening event is communicated to the VCU (206) through the microcontroller (204) via a communication interface (216) which is a Controller Area Network (CAN) in the present embodiment. The VCU (206) serves as a central processing unit for the vehicle (100), coordinating various systems and maintaining overall vehicle control. Upon receiving an alert from the microcontroller (204), the VCU (206) logs the event and prepares to notify external systems. The VCU (206) is configured to communicate with a cloud-based server (208) or a command and control center of the vehicle (100).
The aforementioned alert mechanism is not enabled during production of the battery pack (102) and gets enabled only after the battery pack (102) is completely assembled.
When the casing opening event is detected and logged, the VCU (206) sends a notification to the cloud-based server (208) using the 4G network or any other wired or wireless communication network. This communication includes the said event's time record and other relevant data recorded by the microcontroller (204), allowing the control center to take appropriate action, such as disabling a warranty of the vehicle’s battery. Furthermore, upon detection of unauthorized access and tampering, the vehicle (100) must be brought to an authorized service center for re-enabling the battery pack (102) for vehicle use. The authorized person from the service center inspects the battery pack (102) if the tampering has happened and determine whether the battery pack (102) shall be enabled or permanently disabled based on an inspection outcome or may be on the severity of tampering.
Furthermore, the method for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to the vehicle battery pack is described in detail. The unauthorized person attempts to open the casing (106) of the battery pack (102). Upon opening the casing (106), the ambient
12
light is received by the optical sensor (202) mounted to the Battery Management System (BMS) (104) wherein the ambient light triggers the optical sensor (202). The casing opening detection mechanism (210) of the microcontroller (204) detects the activation of the optical sensor (202).
Referring to figure 3, a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to vehicle battery pack is shown. Said method comprises following steps: opening the casing (106) of the battery pack (102) by the unauthorized personnel wherein the communication cable (216) between the battery (102) and the VCU (206) is disconnected and the battery (102) is uninstalled from the vehicle. Receiving an ambient light on the optical sensor (202) mounted to the Battery Management System (BMS) (104) of the battery pack (102), triggering the said optical sensor (202) in response to the ambient light, detecting the activation of the optical sensor (202) by the casing opening detection mechanism (210) of the microcontroller (204), recording and storing the occurrence of the battery pack casing opening in a microcontroller memory (214) wherein said recording and storing is permanent and unable to delete from the memory (214). Communicating the occurrence of the battery pack casing opening to the Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) (206) by the microcontroller (204) when battery pack (102) is installed back in the vehicle (100) and communication cable (216) is connected back and transmitting information regarding the battery pack casing opening from the VCU (204) to a cloud-based server (208). Detecting tampering of the battery pack (102) by unauthorized personnel based on a received information wherein the tamper alert is always protected despite any further attempts on clearing the tamper alert by providing reset to the microcontroller or by cycling the power for the BMS board. Disabling at least one function of the battery pack (102) by the action enforcement mechanism (212) of the microcontroller (204) to prevent malfunctioning caused by unauthorized access and tampering of components inside the battery pack (102) and mandating the vehicle (100) to be brought to an authorized service center to re-enable the battery pack (102) for vehicle
13
use. Inspecting the battery pack (102) by an authorized personnel to determine the tampering which would affect normal functioning of the vehicle (100) and finally decision is taken by the authorized personnel whether the battery pack (102) shall be enabled or disabled permanently based on an outcome of the inspection.
Additionally, the recorded instances of unauthorized access to the battery (102) or tamper alerts remain registered permanently, despite attempts to delete them via giving reset to the microcontroller (204) or by cycling power to the BMS (104). Authorized personnel inspects the battery pack (102) by conducting diagnostic tests to evaluate the integrity and functionality of its components. Re-enabling the battery pack (102) for vehicle use involves resetting security protocols and re-establishing communication between the battery pack (102) and the vehicle systems. The decision to permanently disable the battery pack (102) is based on the severity of the tampering detected and the potential risks to vehicle safety and performance. Furthermore, this method includes logging and timestamping each occurrence of the battery pack casing being opened.
The combination of the above-mentioned components provides a robust security system for the battery pack. By detecting unauthorized access attempts at the earliest stage, the system enhances the overall safety and security of the vehicle’s authenticity in which the battery pack is installed.
While specific language has been used to describe the invention, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.
FURTHER ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The combination of the PES, BMS, VCU, and 4G communication provides a robust security system for the battery pack. By detecting unauthorized access attempts at the
14
earliest stage, the system enhances the overall safety and security of the vehicle or device in which the battery pack is installed.
Furthermore, this design serves as a deterrent to unauthorized access, as the intruder is immediately detected and reported to a remote monitoring center. The system's quick response and detailed data logging contribute to its effectiveness in preventing theft, tampering, or other unauthorized activities.
By implementing such measures, manufacturers can enhance the safety and reliability of electric two-wheelers, reduce the risks associated with tampering and reverse engineering, and promote greater consumer confidence in these eco-friendly transportation alternatives. The present invention seeks to address these challenges by providing novel solutions that improve battery security in electric two-wheelers.
Overall, this patent provides an innovative solution for battery pack security, combining light-based intrusion detection with advanced communication technologies to ensure a rapid and effective response to security threats.
15
REFERENCES
Sr. No.
Part Name
Reference Number
1
Vehicle
100
2
Battery pack
102
3
BMS
104
4
Casing
106
5
Optical sensor
202
6
Microcontroller
204
7
VCU
206
8
cloud-based server
208
9
casing opening detection mechanism
210
10
action enforcement mechanism
212
11
Memory
214
12
Reset
218
13
Input Power
220
14
Communication Interface
216
15
Battery Disconnect Switch
222
16
Motor Controller
226
17
Motor
224 , Claims:We Claim:
1.
A method for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to a vehicle battery pack comprising:
-
opening a casing (106) of a battery pack (102) by an unauthorized personnel;
-
receiving an ambient light on an optical sensor (202) mounted to a Battery Management System (BMS) (104) of the battery pack (102);
-
triggering the said optical sensor (202) in response to the ambient light;
-
detecting an activation of the optical sensor (202) by a casing opening detection mechanism (210) of a microcontroller (204);
-
recording and storing an occurrence of the battery pack casing opening in a microcontroller memory (214);
-
communicating the occurrence of the battery pack casing opening to a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) (206) by the microcontroller (204);
-
transmitting information regarding the battery pack casing opening from the VCU (206) to a cloud-based server (208);
-
detecting tampering of the battery pack (102) by unauthorized personnel based on a received information;
-
disabling at least one function of the battery pack (102) by an action enforcement mechanism (212) of the microcontroller (204) to prevent malfunctioning caused by unauthorized access and tampering of components inside the battery pack (102);
-
mandating the vehicle (100) to be brought to an authorized service center to re-enable the battery pack (102) for vehicle use;
-
inspecting the battery pack (102) by an authorized personnel to determine the tampering which would affect normal functioning of the vehicle (100); and
17
-
deciding by the authorized personnel whether the battery pack (102) shall be enabled or disabled permanently based on an outcome of the inspection.
2.
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recorded unauthorized access to battery (102) or a tamper alert remains registered regardless of attempts to reset it through the microcontroller or by cycling a power to the BMS (104).
3.
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inspection of the battery pack (102) by authorized personnel comprises conducting diagnostic tests to assess an integrity and functionality of the battery pack components.
4.
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the re-enabling of the battery pack (102) for vehicle use involves resetting security protocols by authorized personnel.
5.
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a decision to permanently disable the battery pack (102) is based on a severity of tampering detected and potential risks to vehicle safety and performance.
6.
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method comprises logging and timestamping each occurrence of the battery pack casing opening.
7.
A system for detecting and responding to unauthorized access to a vehicle battery pack comprising:
-
a casing opening detection mechanism (210) configured to detect an opening of a battery pack casing (106) by an unauthorized personnel;
-
an action enforcement mechanism (212) configured to disable at least one function of a battery pack (102) to prevent malfunctioning caused by
18
unauthorized access and
tampering of components inside the battery pack (102);
-
an optical sensor (202) mounted to a Battery Management System (BMS) (104) of the battery pack (102) configured to activate by an ambient light;
-
a microcontroller (204) comprising the casing opening detection mechanism (210), the action enforcement mechanism (212) and a memory (214), configured to receive signals from afore-mentioned casing opening detection mechanism (210), the action enforcement mechanism (212) and the optical sensor (202), record and store occurrences of the battery pack casing opening;
-
a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) (206) configured to receive information about the battery pack casing opening from the microcontroller (204); and
-
a cloud-based server (208) configured to receive information from the VCU (206) regarding the battery pack casing opening and to detect battery tampering based on the received information.
8.
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the action enforcement mechanism (212) disables at least one function of the battery pack (102) upon detection of unauthorized access and tampering, the vehicle (100) must be brought to an authorized service center for re-enabling the battery pack (102) for vehicle use.
9.
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein authorized personnel of the authorized service center is configured to inspect the battery pack (102) for tampering and determine whether the battery pack (102) shall be enabled or permanently disabled based on an inspection outcome.
10.
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the BMS (104) is mounted on top of the battery pack (102), both of which are enclosed within the casing (106),
19
rendering
an interior of the battery pack (102) inaccessible without opening said casing (106).
11.
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the optical sensor (202) is mounted such that it receives the ambient light whenever the above-mentioned casing (106) is opened by unauthorized personnel.
12.
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the optical sensor (202) is selected from one or more of photodiode, photocell, phototransistor, photomultiplier tube (PMT), charged-coupled device (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, light-dependent resistor (LDR) etc.