Electric quantity control method and electronic device thereof

Abstract

An electric quantity control method is applied to an electronic device having a controller and at least one charging slot. The at least one charging slot is electrically connected with an external battery. The electric quantity control method comprises the following steps: analyzing the storage capacity and the previous use time point of the external battery through the at least one charging slot, and controlling the external battery to carry out a discharge program to reduce the storage capacity of the external battery when judging that the time length between the previous use time point and the current time point exceeds a first preset time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power control method and an electronic device thereof, and more particularly to a power control method and an electronic device thereof that can extend the service life of a battery and maintain optimal operating performance. Background Art

[0002] Traditional chargers typically have only one charging slot and can only charge one external battery at a time. Other chargers have multiple charging slots, but charging multiple batteries simultaneously requires a long charging time, and cannot prioritize the battery with the highest charge capacity. Furthermore, traditional chargers only have a charging function and cannot determine whether the external battery inserted into the charging slot has been idle for too long, nor can they perform discharge and charge functions on batteries that have been idle for too long to control the charge within the ideal range. Consequently, if an external battery in the charging slot is idle for too long, it will self-discharge, causing aging and reduced performance. Therefore, designing a charger and its charge control method that can maintain optimal operating performance for external batteries is one of the development goals of the battery equipment industry. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power control method and an electronic device thereof that can extend the battery life and maintain optimal operating performance, so as to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a power control method for an electronic device having a controller and at least one charging slot, wherein the at least one charging slot is electrically connected to an external battery. The power control method comprises:

[0005] The controller analyzes the storage capacity and the previous usage time of the external battery via the at least one charging slot; and

[0006] When the controller determines that the time length between the previous use time point and the current time point exceeds a first predetermined time, the controller controls the external battery to perform a discharge process to reduce the storage capacity of the external battery.

[0007] Preferably, it also includes:

[0008] When the controller determines that the storage capacity of the external battery drops to a first predetermined capacity, the controller terminates the discharge process of the external battery.

[0009] Preferably, the electronic device further comprises an energy storage element, and the power control method further comprises:

[0010] The controller utilizes the discharge process of the external battery to perform a charging process on the energy storage element.

[0011] More preferably, it further comprises:

[0012] When the controller determines that the storage capacity of the external battery is less than or equal to the second predetermined capacity, the controller uses the energy storage element to perform a charging process on the external battery.

[0013] More preferably, it further comprises:

[0014] When the energy storage element is fully charged, the controller uses a detection resistor to perform a discharge procedure on the external battery.

[0015] Preferably, the electronic device further comprises a temperature sensor and a heater, and the power control method further comprises:

[0016] The controller drives the heater to increase the temperature of the external battery when the ambient temperature obtained by the temperature sensor is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

[0017] Further preferably, the electronic device further comprises an energy storage element, and the power control method further comprises:

[0018] The controller drives the heater using the energy storage element.

[0019] Further preferably, the electronic device further comprises an energy storage element, and the power control method further comprises:

[0020] When the controller determines that the ambient temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature and the duration of the situation where the external battery does not need to be charged using the energy storage element exceeds a second predetermined time, the controller controls the energy storage element to perform a discharge process until the storage capacity of the energy storage element drops to a third predetermined capacity.

[0021] More preferably, it further comprises:

[0022] The controller utilizes a detection resistor to perform a discharge process of the energy storage element; or drives the heater to perform a discharge process of the energy storage element.

[0023] Preferably, the electronic device further comprises an energy storage element and a plurality of external batteries, and the power control method further comprises:

[0024] The controller utilizes the energy storage element to preferentially perform a charging process on an external battery having the highest storage capacity among the plurality of external batteries.

[0025] To achieve the above object, the present invention further provides an electronic device with a power control function, comprising:

[0026] at least one charging slot for electrically connecting to an external battery; and

[0027] A controller is electrically connected to the at least one charging slot. The controller analyzes the storage capacity of the external battery and the previous usage time point through the at least one charging slot, and when it is determined that the length of time between the previous usage time point and the current time point exceeds a first predetermined time, controls the external battery to perform a discharge procedure to reduce the storage capacity of the external battery.

[0028] Preferably, the controller further terminates the discharge process of the external battery when it is determined that the storage capacity of the external battery drops to a first predetermined capacity.

[0029] Preferably, the electronic device further comprises an energy storage element, which is arranged on a charging and discharging path of the electronic device, and the controller utilizes the discharging process of the external battery to perform a charging process on the energy storage element.

[0030] Further preferably, when the controller determines that the storage capacity of the external battery is less than or equal to a second predetermined capacity, the controller uses the energy storage element to perform a charging procedure on the external battery.

[0031] Further preferably, the electronic device further comprises a detection resistor, which is arranged on a charging and discharging path of the electronic device. When the energy storage element is fully charged, the controller further utilizes the detection resistor to perform the discharge procedure on the external battery.

[0032] Preferably, the electronic device further has a temperature sensor and a heater, which are respectively arranged on the charging and discharging paths of the electronic device. When the ambient temperature obtained by the temperature sensor is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the controller drives the heater to increase the temperature of the external battery.

[0033] Further preferably, the electronic device further has an energy storage element, which is arranged on a charging and discharging path of the electronic device, and the controller drives the heater using the energy storage element.

[0034] Further preferably, the electronic device further has an energy storage element, which is arranged on the charging and discharging path of the electronic device. When the controller determines that the ambient temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature and the duration of the situation where the external battery does not need to be charged using the energy storage element exceeds a second predetermined time, the controller controls the energy storage element to perform a discharge procedure until the storage capacity of the energy storage element drops to a third predetermined capacity.

[0035] Further preferably, the electronic device further has a detection resistor, which is arranged on the charging and discharging path of the electronic device. The controller uses the detection resistor to perform the discharge process of the energy storage element; or drives the heater to perform the discharge process of the energy storage element.

[0036] Preferably, the electronic device further comprises an energy storage element and a plurality of external batteries, wherein the energy storage element is arranged on the charging and discharging path of the electronic device, and the controller utilizes the energy storage element to preferentially charge the external battery with the highest storage capacity among the plurality of external batteries.

[0037] Compared to the prior art, the electronic device of the present invention can be a multi-channel charger, preferably used in drone devices. When the electronic device is idle for a long time, it can use a power control method to switch the charging and discharging procedures of the external battery and energy storage element, thereby controlling the storage capacity within a predetermined range, thereby extending the service life of the product and maintaining optimal operating performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a power control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In order to provide a further understanding of the purpose, structure, features, and functions of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.

[0042] Certain terms are used throughout the specification and claims to refer to specific components. Those skilled in the art will understand that manufacturers may use different terms to refer to the same component. This specification and claims do not distinguish components by name, but rather by their functional differences. Throughout the specification and claims, the term "including" is open-ended and should be interpreted as meaning "including, but not limited to."

[0043] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram of the electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 10 is a multi-channel charger with a power control function, which can charge multiple external batteries 12 in turn or simultaneously. In addition, the electronic device 10 can also serve as a storage device for the external batteries 12, which means that after the external batteries 12 are fully charged, they can be placed in the electronic device 10 without being removed. Therefore, the electronic device 10 will use its power control function to control the storage power and storage temperature environment so that the external batteries 12 can maintain optimal performance. The number of external batteries 12 and their placement in the electronic device 10 are not limited to Figure 1 The styles shown in the figure are not described separately for other possible variations.

[0044] The electronic device 10 may include at least a charging slot 14, a converter 16, an energy storage element 18, a temperature sensor 20, a heater 22, a detection resistor 24, and a controller 26. The charging slot 14 is used to electrically connect to the external battery 12, allowing power to be transferred between the electronic device 10 and the external battery 12. The number of charging slots 14 depends on the design requirements of the electronic device 10. The converter 16 is located in the charging and discharging paths of the electronic device 10, converting alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) and providing this power to the external battery 12 through the charging slot 14. The energy storage element 18 is a built-in battery within the electronic device 10 and is located in the charging and discharging paths of the electronic device 10. This allows the energy storage element 18 to supply power to the external battery 12 through the charging slot 14, as well as receive power from the external battery 12 or from the converter 16. In other words, when the electronic device 10 is not connected to an external power source, it can transfer power from the energy storage element 18 to the external battery 12 for charging. Alternatively, when the external battery 12 is discharging, it can transfer power to the energy storage element 18 for storage.

[0045] A temperature sensor 20 and a heater 22 are respectively located in the charging and discharging paths of the electronic device 10. The temperature sensor 20 can be used to obtain the ambient temperature of the area where the electronic device 10 is located. A low-temperature environment can cause the discharge performance of the external battery 12 and / or the energy storage element 18 to decrease. Therefore, the electronic device 10 analyzes the ambient temperature obtained by the temperature sensor 20 to control the stored power and storage temperature. The heater 22 is used to regulate the temperature of the energy storage element 18 and / or the external battery 12 to ensure optimal charging and discharging performance. A sense resistor 24 is located in the charging and discharging paths of the electronic device 10. The electronic device 10 measures the voltage across the sense resistor 24 and converts it into a current value during the charging or discharging process, thereby precisely controlling the charge or discharge capacity of the energy storage element 18 and / or the external battery 12. A controller 26 is electrically connected to the charging slot 14, the converter 16, the energy storage element 18, the temperature sensor 20, the heater 22, and the sense resistor 24 to execute the power control method of the present invention.

[0046] See also Figure 3 , Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a power control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 The power control method is applicable to Figure 1 and Figure 2The electronic device 10 shown in the figure. Regarding the power control method, step S100 is an analysis of the external battery 12, and step S102 is a discharge process of the external battery 12. In steps S100 and S102, the controller 26 can use the charging slot 14 to analyze and identify the power storage and previous usage time of the external battery 12, and use a timer (not shown in the figure) to obtain the current time point of the electronic device 10. If the time length between the previous usage time point and the current time point of the external battery 12 does not exceed a first predetermined time, for example, the time difference between the previous usage time point and the current time point is less than five to seven days, it indicates that the external battery 12 is not in an idle state, and the discharge process of the external battery 12 is not executed. If the time length between the previous usage time point and the current time point of the external battery 12 exceeds the first predetermined time, it indicates that the external battery 12 has been idle for too long, and the controller 26 will perform a discharge process on the external battery 12 to reduce its power storage. In this embodiment, the first predetermined time is preferably preset to five to seven days, but the actual application is not limited thereto and depends on the electronic control equipment used in the electronic device 10 and the external battery 12 .

[0047] Step S104 is the charging process for the energy storage element 18, while step S106 is the discharging process for the detection resistor 24. When the controller 26 determines that the discharge process for the external battery 12 should be executed (step S102), the controller 26 can selectively control the external battery 12 to charge the energy storage element 18 during the discharge process for the external battery 12 in step S104, or control the detection resistor 24 to directly release the stored energy from the external battery 12 in step S106. However, regardless of whether the controller 26 executes the discharge process for the external battery 12 in step S104 or step S106, when the stored energy level of the external battery 12 drops to a first predetermined level, the controller 26 executes step S108 to terminate the discharge process for the external battery 12. In this embodiment, the first predetermined power level in step S108 may be 50% of the total power storage capacity of the external battery 12. This is intended to reduce the power storage capacity of the external battery 12 while preventing over-discharge of the external battery 12. This prevents the maximum power storage capacity of the external battery 12 from decreasing due to prolonged inactivity, thereby facilitating storage. However, the value of the first predetermined power level is not limited to the aforementioned value and may vary depending on the battery characteristics of the external battery 12.

[0048] Although step S104 uses the discharge process of the external battery 12 to charge the energy storage element 18, the remaining power of the external battery 12 may be greater than the total storage capacity of the energy storage element 18. If the energy storage element 18 reaches full power during the charging process of step S104, the power control method of the present invention can automatically or manually switch to step S106 to continue the discharge process of the external battery 12 using the detection resistor 24.

[0049] Although step S108 terminates the discharge process of the external battery 12, the external battery 12 will inevitably self-discharge due to electrochemical reactions during long periods of inactivity. To prevent excessive discharge of the external battery 12, which could lead to a decrease in the maximum capacity of the external battery 12 or even battery failure, and to facilitate storage, step S110 may determine whether to initiate a charging process for the external battery 12. For example, if the controller 26 determines that the capacity of the external battery 12 is less than or equal to the second predetermined capacity, the external battery 12 will be charged until the capacity of the external battery 12 reaches the first predetermined capacity, thereby maintaining the capacity of the external battery 12 between the second predetermined capacity and the first predetermined capacity. This helps prevent the maximum capacity of the external battery 12 from decreasing, facilitating storage. Generally, the second predetermined capacity can be set to 40% of the total capacity of the external battery 12, but this value is not limited to this. In step S110, the controller 26 can preferably use the energy storage element 18 to execute the charging process of the external battery 12, but can also use the converter 16 to convert the AC power into DC power and provide it to the external battery 12 to execute its charging process. The charging source of the external battery 12 is not limited to this and depends on the design requirements. Preferably, the electronic device 10 can also be configured with a charging mode selection switch. The user can adjust the selection switch to select the charging mode of the external battery 12 as needed, so that the charging process of the external battery 12 can be stopped when the storage capacity of the external battery 12 rises to the first predetermined capacity, so as to facilitate the preservation of the external battery 12 in an idle state; or until the storage capacity of the external battery 12 is fully charged, so as to facilitate the electrical device to have a longer battery life when the external battery 12 is not in an idle state.

[0050] Furthermore, if multiple external batteries 12 are inserted into different charging slots 14 of the electronic device 10, the power control method analyzes the respective capacities of the multiple external batteries 12 and then preferably prioritizes determining whether to perform a charging or discharging process on the external battery 12 with the highest capacities. After the charging or discharging process for the external battery 12 with the highest capacities is completed, the external battery 12 with the next highest capacities among the multiple external batteries 12 is then sequentially determined to determine whether to perform a charging or discharging process. However, the electronic device 10 may also be configured with a start switch (not shown in the figures) for each charging slot 14. The user can use the start switch to activate the corresponding charging slot 14 as needed to determine whether the external battery 12 in the specific charging slot 14 should be charged or discharged first.

[0051] In the aforementioned charging and discharging procedures, the power control method of the present invention can also simultaneously determine whether to adjust the storage temperature of the external battery 12 through step S112. For example, the controller 26 can use the temperature sensor 20 to obtain the ambient temperature of the area where the electronic device 10 and the external battery 12 are located, and compare it with the predetermined temperature. In this embodiment, the predetermined temperature is set to five degrees Celsius, but the actual value is not limited to this. If the ambient temperature is higher than five degrees Celsius, it means that it does not meet the conditions of the predetermined temperature, and the ambient temperature will not affect the current output and input functions of the external battery 12. At this time, the heater 22 is not started. If the ambient temperature is lower than or equal to five degrees Celsius, it means that it meets the conditions of the predetermined temperature. The external battery 12 will be affected by the low temperature environment and its current output function. Therefore, the heater 22 can be started to increase the temperature of the external battery 12.

[0052] In step S112, controller 26 may utilize converter 16 or energy storage element 18 to provide electrical energy to drive heater 22. Furthermore, the power control method of the present invention may utilize step S112 to regulate the storage temperature of external battery 12 at all times during steps S100 through S110. Alternatively, the power control method may utilize step S112 only when it detects poor charging or discharging efficiency during one or more of steps S100 through S110, thereby determining whether the ambient temperature is too low and therefore requires increasing the storage temperature of external battery 12.

[0053] In addition, the power control method of the present invention can optionally utilize step S114 to determine whether to execute the discharge process of the energy storage element 18. The electronic device 10 of the present invention has the function of self-discharging the energy storage element 18. When the energy storage element 18 is no longer needed to provide power to the external battery 12 for charging (for example, when the power storage capacity of the external battery 12 in an idle state is greater than or equal to the first predetermined power), and the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 20 is higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, higher than 5 degrees Celsius) for a duration exceeding a second predetermined time, the power control method can control the energy storage element 18 to discharge until the power storage capacity of the energy storage element 18 reaches a third predetermined power. In this embodiment, the third predetermined power is set to 50% of the total power storage capacity of the energy storage element 18, and the second predetermined time is set to 15 days. These values ​​are determined by the charge and discharge characteristics of the energy storage element 18. In other words, the condition for terminating the discharge process is that the power storage capacity of the energy storage element 18 reaches the third predetermined power, which can be set to 50% of the total power storage capacity of the energy storage element 18. However, practical applications are not limited to this. The power control method of the present invention can utilize the detection resistor 24 to discharge the energy storage element 18 in step S114 , or can utilize the discharge of the energy storage element 18 in step S112 to drive the heater 22 to regulate the storage temperature of the external battery 12 .

[0054] It is worth mentioning that the functions mentioned in the power control method of the present invention are not limited to Figure 3 The controller of the electronic device can detect at any time the power level of the external battery and the previous usage time point, whether the time interval between the previous usage time point and the current time point exceeds a first predetermined time, whether the power level is less than the first predetermined power level or less than / equal to a second predetermined power level, whether the ambient temperature obtained by the temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature, whether the duration of the external battery not requiring charging exceeds a second predetermined time, and other situations. The power control method can then immediately execute corresponding charging procedures, discharging procedures, and / or heating procedures based on the detection results.

[0055] In summary, the electronic device of the present invention can be a multi-channel charger, preferably used in drones. Therefore, in the event of an emergency flight mission, the electronic device and its power control method will prioritize charging the external battery with the highest capacity, followed by charging the external battery with the lowest capacity, and finally charging the energy storage element within the electronic device. This allows the external battery to be quickly charged and installed in the drone to perform the emergency flight mission. Furthermore, when the electronic device of the present invention is idle for extended periods, it can utilize the power control method to switch between charging and discharging procedures for the external battery and energy storage element, controlling the capacity within a predetermined range. Furthermore, a temperature sensor and heater can be used to regulate the temperature of the electronic device and external battery, thereby extending the product's service life and maintaining optimal operating performance.

[0056] The present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments. However, the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. On the contrary, modifications and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be protected by the present invention.

Claims

1. A power control method, characterized in that: Applied to an electronic device having a controller and at least one charging slot electrically connected to an external battery, the power control method includes: The controller analyzes the storage capacity and the previous usage time of the external battery via the at least one charging slot; and When the controller determines that the time length between the previous use time point and the current time point exceeds a first predetermined time, the controller controls the external battery to perform a discharge process to reduce the storage capacity of the external battery.

2. The power control method according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: When the controller determines that the storage capacity of the external battery drops to a first predetermined capacity, the controller terminates the discharge process of the external battery.

3. The power control method according to claim 1, wherein: The electronic device further includes an energy storage element, and the power control method further includes: The controller utilizes the discharge process of the external battery to perform a charging process on the energy storage element.

4. The power control method according to claim 3, wherein: Also included: When the controller determines that the storage capacity of the external battery is less than or equal to the second predetermined capacity, the controller uses the energy storage element to perform a charging process on the external battery.

5. The power control method according to claim 3, wherein: Also included: When the energy storage element is fully charged, the controller uses a detection resistor to perform a discharge procedure on the external battery.

6. The power control method according to claim 1, wherein: The electronic device further includes a temperature sensor and a heater. The power control method further includes: The controller drives the heater to increase the temperature of the external battery when the ambient temperature obtained by the temperature sensor is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

7. The power control method according to claim 6, wherein: The electronic device further includes an energy storage element, and the power control method further includes: The controller drives the heater using the energy storage element.

8. The power control method according to claim 6, wherein: The electronic device further includes an energy storage element, and the power control method further includes: When the controller determines that the ambient temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature and the duration of the situation where the external battery does not need to be charged using the energy storage element exceeds a second predetermined time, the controller controls the energy storage element to perform a discharge process until the storage capacity of the energy storage element drops to a third predetermined capacity.

9. The power control method according to claim 8, wherein: Also included: The controller utilizes a detection resistor to perform a discharge process of the energy storage element; or drives the heater to perform a discharge process of the energy storage element.

10. The power control method according to claim 1, wherein: The electronic device also has an energy storage element and multiple external batteries. The power control method further includes: The controller utilizes the energy storage element to preferentially perform a charging process on an external battery having the highest storage capacity among the plurality of external batteries.

11. An electronic device with a power control function, characterized in that: It includes: at least one charging slot for electrically connecting to an external battery; and A controller is electrically connected to the at least one charging slot. The controller analyzes the storage capacity of the external battery and the previous usage time point through the at least one charging slot, and when it is determined that the length of time between the previous usage time point and the current time point exceeds a first predetermined time, controls the external battery to perform a discharge procedure to reduce the storage capacity of the external battery.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein: The controller also terminates the discharge process of the external battery when it determines that the storage capacity of the external battery drops to a first predetermined capacity.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein: The electronic device further comprises an energy storage element, which is arranged on a charging and discharging path of the electronic device. The controller utilizes the discharging process of the external battery to perform a charging process on the energy storage element.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein: The controller also uses the energy storage element to perform a charging process on the external battery when it is determined that the storage capacity of the external battery is less than or equal to a second predetermined capacity.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein: The electronic device further comprises a detection resistor, which is arranged on a charging and discharging path of the electronic device. When the energy storage element is fully charged, the controller utilizes the detection resistor to perform the discharge procedure on the external battery.

16. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein: The electronic device further has a temperature sensor and a heater, which are respectively arranged on the charging and discharging paths of the electronic device. When the ambient temperature obtained by the temperature sensor is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the controller drives the heater to increase the temperature of the external battery.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein: The electronic device further has an energy storage element, which is arranged on a charging and discharging path of the electronic device. The controller drives the heater using the energy storage element.

18. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein: The electronic device further has an energy storage element, which is arranged on the charging and discharging path of the electronic device. When the controller determines that the ambient temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature and the duration of the situation where the external battery does not need to be charged using the energy storage element exceeds a second predetermined time, the controller controls the energy storage element to perform a discharge process until the storage capacity of the energy storage element drops to a third predetermined capacity.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein: The electronic device also has a detection resistor, which is arranged on the charging and discharging path of the electronic device. The controller uses the detection resistor to perform the discharge process of the energy storage element; or drives the heater to perform the discharge process of the energy storage element.

20. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein The electronic device also has an energy storage element and multiple external batteries. The energy storage element is set on the charging and discharging path of the electronic device. The controller uses the energy storage element to preferentially charge the external battery with the highest storage capacity among the multiple external batteries.

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