A battery assembly, a wearable device and a battery protection method thereof

Abstract

This application provides a battery assembly, a wearable device, and a battery protection method thereof. The battery assembly, applied to a wearable device, includes: a main circuit board disposed on the main body of the wearable device; a sub-circuit board electrically connected to the main circuit board and disposed on a non-main body portion of the wearable device; multiple battery cells connected in parallel and disposed on the sub-circuit board; multiple first battery protection circuits integrated on the main circuit board, each corresponding one-to-one with a single parallel-connected battery cell, the first battery protection circuits independently performing overcharge and over-discharge protection for their respective battery cells; and a second battery protection circuit integrated on the main circuit board, the second battery protection circuit performing overcharge, over-discharge, and overcurrent protection for the multiple parallel-connected battery cells. This solution can balance the battery energy density and lightweight design of wearable devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of wearable device technology, and more specifically, to a battery assembly, a wearable device, and a battery protection method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, wearable devices (such as smartwatches and smart bracelets) have been widely used in the consumer electronics field due to their portability, real-time monitoring, and interactive functions. Because they are worn on the human body, higher demands are placed on the size, weight, and wearing comfort of these devices. The battery in wearable devices is usually built into the main body of the device. However, this structural design increases the thickness of the main body, limiting the design of a thinner and lighter device and affecting wearing comfort. At the same time, the limited internal space also restricts the improvement of battery capacity and energy density.

[0003] Therefore, how to balance the battery energy density and lightweight design of wearable devices has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a battery component, a wearable device, and a battery protection method thereof, which can balance the battery energy density and lightweight design of the wearable device.

[0005] In a first aspect, a battery assembly is provided for use in a wearable device, comprising: a main circuit board disposed on the main body of the wearable device; a sub-circuit board electrically connected to the main circuit board and disposed on a non-main body of the wearable device; a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel and disposed on the sub-circuit board; a plurality of first battery protection circuits integrated on the main circuit board, each of the first battery protection circuits corresponding one-to-one with the plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, the first battery protection circuits being used to independently perform overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for the corresponding battery cell; and a second battery protection circuit integrated on the main circuit board, the second battery protection circuit being used to perform overcharge protection, over-discharge protection and overcurrent protection for the plurality of battery cells connected in parallel; wherein the output terminals of the plurality of first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

[0006] By employing the technical solution of this application embodiment, the main circuit board is disposed in the main body of the wearable device, and the sub-circuit board is disposed in a non-main body part (such as a watch strap or wristband), with the sub-circuit board electrically connected to the main circuit board, thus achieving physical separation of the battery and the protection circuit. Compared to a design that integrates the battery and circuit board inside the main body, this design allows for the flexible arrangement of multiple parallel-connected battery cells in a non-main body part without increasing the thickness of the main body, which helps to improve the overall energy density of the battery pack. Therefore, by using the above-mentioned battery assembly in wearable devices, both battery energy density and a thin and light design can be achieved, thereby simultaneously realizing the device's battery life and wearing comfort.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, a plurality of first battery protection circuits correspond one-to-one with a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, including: the first battery protection circuit is used to electrically connect to the positive and negative terminals of the corresponding battery cells through an electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board.

[0008] This implementation method connects each first battery protection circuit to the positive and negative terminals of the corresponding battery cell via an electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board. This helps to provide each battery cell with an independent monitoring and control path. Compared to a design that shares the same protection circuit with multiple battery cells, this independent connection method can reduce mutual interference between different battery cells to a certain extent, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the battery assembly during long-term use.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the negative electrodes of multiple parallel-connected battery cells are interconnected on a sub-circuit board to form a common negative electrode.

[0010] This implementation method interconnects the negative terminals of individual battery cells on the sub-circuit board to form a common negative terminal. This simplifies the negative terminal wiring layout and provides a unified reference potential point for the subsequent overall protection circuit. Compared to designing each battery cell's negative terminal separately, the common negative terminal structure helps reduce the number of wires on the sub-circuit board, lowering circuit complexity and thus improving the integration and space utilization of the battery assembly to some extent. This allows the battery assembly to be placed in the space-constrained non-main body of wearable devices.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the second battery protection circuit is used to be electrically connected to a common negative terminal via an electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board, and to be connected to the output terminals of all the first battery protection circuits.

[0012] This implementation solution enables the second battery protection circuit to be electrically connected to the common negative terminal via the electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board, and to the output terminals of all first battery protection circuits. This allows for the construction of a dual architecture that combines individual protection with overall protection. Under this architecture, the second battery protection circuit can acquire the total voltage and current information of the entire battery pack, while simultaneously receiving the output processed by the first battery protection circuit. This provides a signal basis for overall overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and overcurrent protection, further enhancing the overall safety performance of the protection circuit.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the battery assembly further includes: an interface disposed on a sub-circuit board for detachably connecting the sub-circuit board to the main circuit board.

[0014] Through the technical solution of this embodiment, the interface allows the sub-circuit board where the battery cell is located to be physically separated from the main circuit board where the protection circuit is located, which facilitates the independent assembly and disassembly of the battery assembly and the main body of the device.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the main circuit board includes multiple positive contacts and at least two parallel common negative contacts, and the interface includes spring pins, which include: multiple positive spring pins, each corresponding to a positive contact; and at least two parallel common negative spring pins, each corresponding to at least two parallel common negative contacts.

[0016] The technical solution of this embodiment involves setting multiple positive contacts and at least two parallel common negative contacts on the main circuit board, and setting corresponding positive spring pins and common negative spring pins in the interface. When the sub-circuit board is connected to the main circuit board, each positive spring pin contacts the corresponding positive contact one by one, and each common negative spring pin contacts the corresponding common negative contact one by one, forming a multi-point parallel electrical transmission path.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the main circuit board includes a printed circuit board.

[0018] Through this embodiment, the printed circuit board, as a circuit carrier, possesses relatively stable mechanical strength and good electrical performance, enabling it to support both the first and second battery protection circuits. This design fully utilizes the standardized manufacturing process of printed circuit boards, helping to ensure the consistency of the protection circuits during mass production. Simultaneously, the rigid structure of the printed circuit board makes it suitable for fixed installation inside the main body of wearable devices, which is beneficial for improving the mechanical stability of the protection circuits.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the sub-circuit board includes a flexible circuit board disposed within the wristband assembly of the wearable device.

[0020] The flexible circuit board, as described in this embodiment, possesses excellent bending performance, enabling it to adapt to the deformation requirements of the wristband assembly during use. By placing the battery cells on the flexible circuit board and within the wristband, the battery assembly can bend with the wristband, contributing to wearing comfort. Compared to designs that concentrate all batteries in the main body, this structure distributes the battery's space across the wristband area, thus facilitating a thinner and lighter main body design.

[0021] Secondly, a wearable device is provided, comprising a main body and a wristband assembly. The main body includes a main circuit board, multiple first battery protection circuits, and a second battery protection circuit. The wristband assembly includes a sub-circuit board and multiple battery cells connected in parallel. The sub-circuit board is electrically connected to the main circuit board. The multiple battery cells connected in parallel are disposed on the sub-circuit board. The multiple first battery protection circuits are integrated on the main circuit board, each corresponding one-to-one with a single battery cell connected in parallel. Each first battery protection circuit independently performs overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for its corresponding battery cell. The second battery protection circuit is integrated on the main circuit board and performs overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and overcurrent protection for the multiple battery cells connected in parallel. The outputs of the multiple first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input of the second battery protection circuit.

[0022] By using the technical solution of this application embodiment, multiple parallel-connected battery cells and protection circuits are respectively disposed in the wristband assembly and the main body. Compared with the design of integrating the battery cells and circuit board into the main body, the internal space occupied by the main body can be dispersed to a certain extent, thereby helping to promote the thinner and lighter design of the main body while improving the battery energy density of the wearable device.

[0023] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the wristband component further includes: an interface disposed on a sub-circuit board for detachably connecting the sub-circuit board to the main circuit board.

[0024] This design, through the technical solution of this embodiment, can reduce the difficulty of repairing and replacing the battery assembly to a certain extent, allowing users or maintenance personnel to replace the wristband assembly without disassembling the main body. Simultaneously, the interface design enables the electrical connection between the battery assembly and the main body to be separable, thereby facilitating modular production and assembly of the battery assembly.

[0025] Thirdly, a battery protection method for a wearable device is provided, applied to a battery assembly in any possible implementation of the first aspect. The battery assembly includes multiple battery cells connected in parallel, multiple first battery protection circuits, and a second battery protection circuit. The method includes: the multiple first battery protection circuits respectively monitoring the voltage of each battery cell in the multiple parallel-connected battery cells; the multiple first battery protection circuits determining whether the voltage reaches a first overcharge threshold or a first over-discharge threshold; if the voltage of any battery cell is greater than or equal to the first overcharge threshold or less than or equal to the first over-discharge threshold, the first battery protection circuit corresponding to the battery cell independently disconnects the charging and discharging circuit of the battery cell; the second battery protection circuit monitors the total voltage and total current of the multiple parallel-connected battery cells; the second battery protection circuit determines whether the total voltage reaches a second overcharge threshold or is less than or equal to a second over-discharge threshold, or determines whether the total current reaches an overcurrent threshold; if the total voltage is greater than or equal to the second overcharge threshold or is less than or equal to the second over-discharge threshold, or the total current is greater than or equal to the overcurrent threshold, the second battery protection circuit disconnects the charging and discharging circuit of the multiple parallel-connected battery cells; wherein the output terminals of the multiple first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

[0026] The technical solution of this application, through the cascaded connection of the first battery protection circuit and the second battery protection circuit, allows for the establishment of protection mechanisms at both the individual battery cell level and the overall battery pack level. Individual battery cell protection isolates abnormal battery cells, while overall protection responds to a wider range of abnormal conditions. This cooperative design helps improve the safety redundancy of the battery pack during charging and discharging. Furthermore, the individual and overall protection architecture in this method is adaptable to structures where battery cells are dispersed, facilitating a thinner and lighter main body design and increased energy density in non-main body sections.

[0027] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, multiple first battery protection circuits monitor the voltage of each battery cell in multiple parallel-connected battery cells, including: each first battery protection circuit acquiring the voltage signal of the corresponding battery cell; each first battery protection circuit determining whether the voltage of the corresponding battery cell has reached a first overcharge threshold or a first over-discharge threshold.

[0028] Through this implementation, each first battery protection circuit can independently acquire the voltage and determine the status of its corresponding battery cell, enabling individual protection to provide differentiated responses for specific battery cells. This design helps to achieve local isolation when a single battery malfunctions, without affecting the normal operation of other parallel battery cells.

[0029] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, when the first battery protection circuit corresponding to a battery cell independently cuts off the charging and discharging circuit of the battery cell, the remaining battery cells and their corresponding first battery protection circuits operate normally and supply power to the outside through the second battery protection circuit.

[0030] Through the technical solution of this embodiment, the design can isolate the abnormal battery cell through individual protection when a single battery cell malfunctions, without affecting the power output capability of other parallel battery cells. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of a battery assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a wearable device 200 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the wristband assembly along the AA direction.

[0034] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the main body along the AA direction.

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a battery protection circuit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic flowchart of a battery protection method 300 for a wearable device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart of another battery protection method 300 for wearable devices provided in this application embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The terminology used in the following embodiments is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a,” “an,” “the,” “the,” “the,” and “this” are intended to also include expressions such as “one or more” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0039] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0040] The method provided in this application relates to wearable devices, and can be applied to the built-in system of wearable devices. Wearable devices can be portable wearable electronic products with charging interfaces, such as smartwatches or smart bracelets.

[0041] In recent years, with the rapid development of electronic technology, wearable devices (such as smartwatches and smart bracelets) have been widely used in the consumer electronics field. These devices are highly popular due to their portability, real-time monitoring, and interactive functions. Since wearable devices are typically worn on the human body, high requirements are placed on their size, weight, and wearing comfort. The battery in a wearable device is usually built into the main body of the device. Specifically, the battery cell is integrated with the printed circuit board (PCB) inside the main body, with the battery and corresponding circuitry housed within the internal space. However, the internal space of the main body is limited, and the battery capacity is often constrained by the thickness and area of ​​the main body, making it difficult to meet the ever-increasing demand for longer battery life.

[0042] In some improved technical solutions, multiple battery cells are connected in parallel within the main body to increase the battery capacity of wearable devices. However, due to limited internal space, increasing the number of battery cells inevitably leads to an increase in the thickness or size of the main body. While this structural design improves energy density to some extent, it increases the overall thickness, limiting the design of thinner and lighter wearable devices and affecting wearing comfort. Furthermore, integrating the battery with the main PCB circuit board in the same space may affect thermal management, wiring, and structural design.

[0043] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a battery assembly, a wearable device, and a battery protection method thereof. This electrode assembly places multiple battery cells on a non-body portion of the wearable device and connects them in parallel, enabling flexible arrangement of multiple battery cells without increasing the thickness of the main body, thereby effectively improving the overall energy density of the battery pack. Therefore, this application can balance the battery energy density and lightweight design of wearable devices, improving both long battery life and wearing comfort.

[0044] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a battery assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. As an example, this battery assembly 100 can be applied to the aforementioned wearable device.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, the battery assembly 100 includes: a main circuit board 110 disposed on the main body of the wearable device; a sub-circuit board 120 electrically connected to the main circuit board and disposed on a non-main body of the wearable device; a plurality of parallel-connected battery cells 130 disposed on the sub-circuit board; a plurality of first battery protection circuits 140 integrated on the main circuit board, each of the first battery protection circuits 140 corresponding one-to-one with the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells 130, the first battery protection circuits being used to independently perform overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for the corresponding battery cell; and a second battery protection circuit 150 integrated on the main circuit board, the second battery protection circuit being used to perform overcharge protection, over-discharge protection and overcurrent protection for the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells; wherein the output terminals of the plurality of first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

[0047] In the above embodiments, by placing the main circuit board in the main body of the wearable device and the sub-circuit board in a non-main body part (such as a watch strap or wristband), and electrically connecting the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board, the battery and protection circuit can be physically separated. Compared to a design that integrates the battery and circuit board inside the main body, this design allows for the flexible arrangement of multiple parallel-connected battery cells in a non-main body part without increasing the thickness of the main body, which helps to improve the overall energy density of the battery pack. Simultaneously, by setting multiple first battery protection circuits corresponding one-to-one with each battery cell, overcharge and over-discharge protection can be independently implemented for each battery cell, reducing the impact of a single battery malfunction on the overall power supply. Furthermore, the second battery protection circuit can implement overcharge, over-discharge, and overcurrent protection for the entire parallel battery pack, forming a cascaded architecture combining individual and overall protection. Therefore, by using the above-mentioned battery components in wearable devices, both battery energy density and a thin and light design can be achieved, thereby simultaneously realizing the device's battery life and wearing comfort.

[0048] Furthermore, by placing the battery cells outside the main body, the aforementioned solution physically separates the battery from the core heat-generating components within the main body (such as the main control chip and radio frequency module), reducing heat concentration. This design helps to disperse the overall heat distribution of the device, reducing localized temperature rise in the main body to some extent, which is beneficial for heat dissipation management of wearable devices during continuous use or charging.

[0049] In the embodiments of this application, the "main body" of a wearable device refers to the structural part of the wearable device used to house core functional components, typically including a display screen, main control chip, sensor module, communication module, and rigid circuit board, among other main functional elements. The main body is the primary functional carrier of the device, usually located on the front of the body or in an easily accessible area when worn, and has a relatively fixed structural form. In contrast to the main body is the "non-main body," which refers to the structural part connected to the main body and used to achieve the function of fixing the device in place, including but not limited to watch straps, wristbands, lanyards, clips, or headbands. In the solution of this application, the battery cell can be located in the non-main body, while the battery protection circuit is integrated on the circuit board of the main body; the two are electrically connected through a detachable electrical connection structure. By placing the battery cell and protection circuit in the non-main body and main body respectively, the internal spatial layout of the main body can be improved to some extent, thereby facilitating the thinner and lighter design of the wearable device.

[0050] In the embodiments of this application, "battery protection circuit" refers to a circuit unit used to monitor the working status of individual battery cells and perform protective actions in abnormal situations.

[0051] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, "integrated on the main circuit board" means that the first battery protection circuit and the second battery protection circuit are mounted or soldered onto the surface of the main circuit board and electrically connected through conductive lines inside the main circuit board.

[0052] Optionally, multiple battery cells 130 connected in parallel can also be integrated onto the main circuit board 110. In this way, battery cells are provided on both the sub-circuit board 120 and the main circuit board 110, and the two groups of battery cells are connected in parallel through an electrical connection between the sub-circuit board and the main circuit board. This can further increase the total capacity of the battery pack without significantly increasing the thickness of the main body, which is beneficial to improving the overall energy density of the wearable device, thereby further improving its battery life.

[0053] In some embodiments, a plurality of first battery protection circuits 140 correspond one-to-one with a plurality of parallel-connected battery cells 130, including: the first battery protection circuit is used to electrically connect to the positive and negative terminals of the corresponding battery cell through an electrical connection between the main circuit board 110 and the sub-circuit board 120. By electrically connecting each first battery protection circuit to the positive and negative terminals of the corresponding battery cell through an electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board, it helps to provide each battery cell with an independent monitoring and control path. Compared to a design that shares the same protection circuit with multiple battery cells, this independent connection method can reduce mutual interference between different battery cells to a certain extent, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the battery assembly during long-term use.

[0054] In some embodiments, the negative electrodes of multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130 are interconnected on a sub-circuit board to form a common negative electrode. By interconnecting the negative electrodes of each battery cell on the sub-circuit board to form a common negative electrode, the negative electrode wiring layout can be simplified while providing a unified reference potential point for the subsequent overall protection circuit. Compared to the design of individually leading out the negative electrode of each battery cell, the common negative electrode structure helps to reduce the number of wires on the sub-circuit board and reduce wiring complexity, thereby improving the integration and space utilization of the battery assembly to a certain extent. This is beneficial for placing the battery assembly in the space-constrained non-body part of wearable devices.

[0055] In some embodiments, the second battery protection circuit 150 is electrically connected to the common negative terminal via the electrical connection between the main circuit board 110 and the sub-circuit board 120, and is also connected to the output terminals of all the first battery protection circuits. By making the second battery protection circuit electrically connected to the common negative terminal via the electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board, and connected to the output terminals of all the first battery protection circuits, a dual architecture combining individual protection and overall protection can be constructed. Under this architecture, the second battery protection circuit can acquire the total voltage and total current information of the entire battery pack, and simultaneously receive the output processed by the first battery protection circuit, providing a signal basis for overall overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and overcurrent protection, which helps to further improve the overall safety performance of the protection circuit.

[0056] In some embodiments, the battery assembly further includes an interface disposed on the sub-circuit board 120 for detachably connecting the sub-circuit board 120 to the main circuit board 110. This interface allows the sub-circuit board containing the battery cells to be physically separated from the main circuit board containing the protection circuit, facilitating independent assembly and disassembly of the battery assembly from the device body. In wearable device applications, this detachable structure can reduce the difficulty of battery repair and replacement to some extent, while also facilitating the modular design and production of the battery assembly, thus improving product maintainability and production assembly efficiency.

[0057] In some embodiments, the main circuit board includes a plurality of positive contacts and at least two parallel common negative contacts. The interface 160 includes a pogo pin, which includes: a plurality of positive pogo pins, each corresponding to a positive contact; and at least two parallel common negative pogo pins, each corresponding to at least two parallel common negative contacts.

[0058] In the above embodiments, by setting multiple positive contacts and at least two parallel common negative contacts on the main circuit board, and setting corresponding positive and common negative spring pins in the interface, this design ensures that when the sub-circuit board is connected to the main circuit board, each positive spring pin contacts its corresponding positive contact, and each common negative spring pin contacts its corresponding common negative contact, forming a multi-point parallel electrical transmission path. Because the spring pin structure has elastic contact characteristics, it can adapt to assembly tolerances within a certain range, helping to maintain contact stability. Simultaneously, the spring pins can reduce contact impedance to a certain extent, meeting the current transmission requirements of the battery assembly during charging and discharging. The common negative terminal uses a structure of at least two parallel spring pins, which can form multiple parallel current paths. Compared to a single-contact design, this can reduce contact resistance to a certain extent, reducing power loss and heat generation during high current transmission. Furthermore, the multi-point contact structure can also provide a certain degree of redundant connection capability, maintaining the integrity of the electrical connection even when a single contact point malfunctions, thus meeting the current transmission requirements of the battery assembly during charging and discharging.

[0059] It should be noted that the number of pogo pins in the embodiments of this application can be configured according to the number of battery cells and the magnitude of the charging and discharging current, and this application does not limit the number. For example, in the embodiments of this application, the number of positive pole pogo pins is equal to the number of battery cells and corresponds one-to-one, so that the positive pole of each battery cell can be independently connected to the corresponding first battery protection circuit; the number of common negative pole pogo pins is set to at least two and connected in parallel with each other. This design can divert the total current to multiple contact points, which helps to reduce the current load of each contact point. At the same time, the parallel connection of multiple points can provide redundancy connection capability to a certain extent. Even if the contact state of individual contact points fluctuates, the other contact points can still maintain electrical connection.

[0060] In some embodiments, the main circuit board 110 includes a printed circuit board (PCB). As a circuit carrier, the PCB possesses relatively stable mechanical strength and good electrical performance, capable of supporting both the first and second battery protection circuits. This design fully utilizes the standardized manufacturing process of PCBs, helping to ensure the consistency of the protection circuits during mass production. Simultaneously, the rigid structure of the PCB makes it suitable for fixed installation inside the main body of the wearable device, which is beneficial for improving the mechanical stability of the protection circuits.

[0061] In some embodiments, the sub-circuit board 120 includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) disposed within the wristband assembly of the wearable device. The FPC has good bending properties, enabling it to adapt to the deformation requirements of the wristband assembly during use. By placing the battery cells on the FPC and within the wristband, the battery assembly can bend with the wristband, helping to maintain wearing comfort. Compared to a design that concentrates the entire battery in the main body, this structure distributes the space occupied by the battery across the wristband area, thereby facilitating a thinner and lighter design for the main body.

[0062] For example, multiple battery cells are soldered in parallel onto a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). Specifically, the positive terminal of each battery cell is led out to an independent network, forming multiple isolated positive terminal networks; the negative terminals of all battery cells are interconnected, forming a shared common negative terminal network. This connection structure allows the positive terminal of each battery cell to be independently connected to a corresponding first battery protection circuit, facilitating independent voltage monitoring and overcharge / over-discharge protection for each battery cell; while the common negative terminal network is connected to the second battery protection circuit of the main body through at least two parallel spring pins, providing a unified reference potential point for overall protection. This design can, to a certain extent, meet the dual needs of individual and overall protection.

[0063] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a wearable device 200 provided in an embodiment of this application. The wearable device can be a smartwatch or a smart bracelet, including the battery component 100 in the above embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the wearable device 200 includes a main body 210 and a wristband assembly 220.

[0064] The main body 210 includes a main circuit board 110, multiple first battery protection circuits 140, and a second battery protection circuit 150; the wristband assembly 220 includes a sub-circuit board 120 and multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130; the sub-circuit board 120 is electrically connected to the main circuit board 110; the multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130 are disposed on the sub-circuit board 120; the multiple first battery protection circuits 140 are integrated on the main circuit board 110, and each of the multiple first battery protection circuits 140 corresponds one-to-one with the multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130, and the first battery protection circuit is used to independently perform overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for the corresponding battery cell; the second battery protection circuit 150 is integrated on the main circuit board 110, and the second battery protection circuit 150 is used to perform overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and overcurrent protection for the multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130; wherein, the output terminals of the multiple first battery protection circuits 140 are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit 150.

[0065] In the above embodiment, multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130 and protection circuits are respectively disposed in the wristband assembly 220 and the main body 210. Compared with the design of integrating battery cells and circuit boards into the main body, this can distribute the internal space occupied by the main body 210 to a certain extent, thereby helping to promote the thinner and lighter design of the main body 210 while improving the battery energy density of the wearable device. By setting a first battery protection circuit 140 corresponding one-to-one with the multiple parallel-connected battery cells 130, overcharge protection and over-discharge protection can be performed independently for each battery cell 130; the second battery protection circuit 150 performs overcharge protection, over-discharge protection and overcurrent protection for the parallel battery pack as a whole, forming a series cascade architecture that combines individual battery protection and overall protection. This helps to improve the safety redundancy of the battery pack during charging and discharging, improving the battery life and wearing comfort of the wearable device. Therefore, the above solution is beneficial to balancing the battery energy density and thinner and lighter design of the wearable device.

[0066] It should be noted that, Figure 2 The seven battery cells shown are merely examples, and this application does not limit the number of battery cells connected in parallel.

[0067] For example, embodiments of this application can select the capacity density of the battery cells and the size of the sub-circuit board 120 according to the specific needs of the wearable device. For instance, the external dimensions of the battery cell are 14mm × 6mm × 3mm, corresponding to a pouch battery cell size of approximately 12mm × 5.8mm × 2.85mm, a nominal voltage of 3.85V, a capacity of approximately 31mAh, and an energy density of approximately 600Wh / L. Therefore, the required number of battery cells can be calculated based on the product design requirements of the wearable device (such as target battery life, spatial layout of the main body and the strap, etc.), and adaptively arranged within the wristband assembly. This design helps to balance the needs of wearable devices for battery capacity and wearing comfort.

[0068] See also Figure 2 In some embodiments, the wristband assembly 220 further includes an interface 160, which is disposed on the sub-circuit board 120 for detachably connecting the sub-circuit board 120 to the main circuit board 110. The wristband assembly 220 achieves a detachable connection with the main circuit board 110 through the interface 160 on the sub-circuit board 120, making the portion containing the battery cell 130 physically separable from the portion containing the protection circuit. This design can reduce the difficulty of repairing and replacing the battery assembly to a certain extent, allowing users or maintenance personnel to replace the wristband assembly 220 without disassembling the main body 210. Simultaneously, the interface 160 makes the electrical connection between the battery assembly and the main body 210 separable, thereby facilitating modular production and assembly of the battery assembly.

[0069] For example, Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the wristband assembly along the AA direction. (See attached image.) Figure 3 As shown, the interface 160 in the wristband assembly 220 includes a first interface 161 and a second interface 162. The first interface 161 can employ a pogo pin structure for electrical connection between the wristband assembly 220 and the main body 210; the second interface 162 can employ a snap-fit ​​structure for mechanical connection between the wristband assembly 220 and the main body 210. By separating the electrical and mechanical connection functions, this design reduces the functional coupling of a single interface to a certain extent, allowing the electrical connection portion to focus on improving transmission performance (e.g., using multi-point parallel pogo pins to reduce contact resistance), while the mechanical connection portion can focus on connection stability and ease of assembly / disassembly, thus improving the overall reliability and lifespan of the interface.

[0070] In some embodiments, Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the main body along the AA direction. (See attached image.) Figure 4 As shown, the main body 210 also includes a mating interface 170 corresponding to the interface 160. This mating interface 170 includes a third interface 171 and a fourth interface 172. The third interface 171 is a contact corresponding to the first interface 161, used to form an electrical connection with the spring pin; the fourth interface 172 is a snap-fit ​​interface corresponding to the second interface 162, used to achieve mechanical fixation by engaging with a snap-fit ​​structure. By setting the electrical connection and mechanical connection on separate mating interfaces, this design decouples the electrical contact and mechanical locking functions when the wristband assembly is connected to the main body, which improves the reliability of the connection and the ease of assembly and disassembly.

[0071] It should be noted that this application addresses... Figure 3 The number of spring pin structures in the first interface 161 Figure 4 The number of contacts on the third interface 171 is not specifically limited. In practical applications, the number of spring pins and contacts can be adaptively configured according to the number of battery cells, the magnitude of the charging and discharging current, and the requirements for contact reliability. For example, the number of positive electrode spring pins can be equal to the number of battery cells and correspond one-to-one, while the number of common negative electrode spring pins can be set to at least two in parallel. Those skilled in the art can reasonably select the above quantities according to the specific design requirements of the wearable device. For example, in Figure 3 In the spring pin structure shown, the number of spring pins can be set to 9; correspondingly, Figure 4 The number of contacts shown can also be set to 9, corresponding one-to-one with the spring pins.

[0072] This application also provides a chip system, which includes circuitry, including embodiments for performing any of the above methods, and any possible implementation thereof.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a battery protection circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 As shown, the circuit sections of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 constitute multiple parallel first battery protection circuits. Each first battery protection circuit corresponds to a single battery cell and is used to independently perform overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for that battery cell. In addition, the circuit sections of Q5 and Q6 constitute a second battery protection circuit, which is used to perform overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and overcurrent protection for the entire battery pack.

[0074] It should be noted that, Figure 5 The diagram illustrates an exemplary structure with four battery cells connected in parallel. If more battery cells need to be added, a corresponding first battery protection circuit can be added following the same principle. Each newly added battery cell is configured with an independent protection circuit, while the second battery protection circuit can remain unchanged. This design maintains the stability of the overall protection architecture while expanding battery capacity, providing flexibility for battery capacity configuration in wearable devices.

[0075] It should be noted that this application addresses... Figure 5 The component models and specific parameters in the circuit shown are not limited. In practical applications, the relevant parameters can be adaptively selected according to the operating voltage, battery capacity, and charging / discharging current requirements of the wearable device. For example, when the battery operating voltage range is 3.5V to 4.2V, protection chips and switching elements suitable for this voltage range can be selected; the battery capacity can be calculated and configured based on the available space in the non-main body section. Those skilled in the art can reasonably design the component parameters based on the circuit architecture provided in this application and in combination with specific application scenarios to achieve the corresponding battery protection function.

[0076] Figure 6 A schematic flowchart of a battery protection method 300 for a wearable device according to an embodiment of this application is shown. This battery protection method 300 is applied to the battery assembly in the above embodiment, which includes multiple battery cells connected in parallel, multiple first battery protection circuits, and a second battery protection circuit.

[0077] like Figure 6 As shown, the battery protection method 300 for the wearable device includes: S310, multiple first battery protection circuits monitor the voltage of each battery cell in multiple parallel-connected battery cells respectively; S320, multiple first battery protection circuits determine whether the voltage has reached the first overcharge threshold or the first over-discharge threshold; S330, if the voltage of any battery cell is greater than or equal to the first overcharge threshold or less than or equal to the first over-discharge threshold, the first battery protection circuit corresponding to the battery cell independently cuts off the charging and discharging circuit of the battery cell. S340, the second battery protection circuit monitors the total voltage and total current of multiple battery cells connected in parallel; S350, the second battery protection circuit determines whether the total voltage reaches the second overcharge threshold or is less than or equal to the second over-discharge threshold, or determines whether the total current reaches the overcurrent threshold. S360, if the total voltage is greater than or equal to the second overcharge threshold or less than or equal to the second over-discharge threshold, or if the total current is greater than or equal to the overcurrent threshold, the second battery protection circuit cuts off the charging and discharging circuits of multiple parallel-connected battery cells. The output terminals of multiple first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

[0078] In step S310, multiple first battery protection circuits monitor the voltage of their respective battery cells. This step, through the one-to-one correspondence between each first battery protection circuit and a battery cell, enables independent acquisition of the voltage state of each battery cell, providing a data basis for subsequent judgment and protection of individual battery cells.

[0079] In step S320, multiple first battery protection circuits compare the collected voltage with preset first overcharge thresholds and first over-discharge thresholds. This step can identify cells with abnormal voltage, which is beneficial for subsequent execution of differentiated protection actions, enabling the protection operation to respond to specific abnormal battery cells.

[0080] In step S330, if the voltage of a certain battery cell reaches the overcharge or over-discharge threshold, the first battery protection circuit corresponding to that battery cell independently cuts off its charging and discharging circuit. This design can isolate abnormal cells without affecting the operation of other normal battery cells, which helps maintain the continuous power supply capability of the overall battery pack.

[0081] In step S340, the second battery protection circuit monitors the total voltage and total current of the entire battery pack. This step obtains the electrical parameters of the battery pack at an overall level, reflecting the comprehensive state of multiple battery cells connected in parallel, and providing information support for overall protection.

[0082] In step S350, the second battery protection circuit compares the monitored total voltage with the second overcharge threshold and the second over-discharge threshold, and compares the total current with the overcurrent threshold. This step adds an overall state assessment to the protection of individual battery cells, helping to identify abnormal situations not covered by individual protection.

[0083] In step S360, when the total voltage or total current reaches the corresponding threshold, the second battery protection circuit cuts off the charging and discharging circuit of the entire battery pack. This step provides protection at the overall level, working in conjunction with the protection of individual battery cells, so that the battery pack still has a certain degree of safety assurance when facing large-scale anomalies or individual protection failures.

[0084] Therefore, by cascading the first and second battery protection circuits in series, this method allows for the establishment of protection mechanisms at both the individual battery cell level and the overall battery pack level. Individual battery cell protection isolates abnormal cells, while overall protection responds to a wider range of abnormal conditions. This coordinated design helps improve the safety redundancy of the battery pack during charging and discharging. Simultaneously, the individual and overall protection architecture in this method is compatible with structures where battery cells are distributed, facilitating a thinner and lighter main body design and increased energy density in non-main body sections.

[0085] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, steps S310 and S330 can be executed simultaneously. That is, the voltage monitoring of each individual battery cell by multiple first battery protection circuits and the monitoring of the total voltage and total current of the entire battery pack by the second battery protection circuit can be performed in parallel. This design allows individual protection and overall protection to operate independently and without dependence on each other. This helps that when an abnormality occurs at any protection level, the other level can still continuously monitor and respond, thereby improving the reliability of the battery pack during charging and discharging.

[0086] Figure 7 A schematic flowchart of another battery protection method 300 for wearable devices provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, in step S310 above, the plurality of first battery protection circuits respectively monitor the voltage of each of the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells, including: S311, each first battery protection circuit collects the voltage signal of the corresponding battery cell; S312, the individual first battery protection circuit determines whether the voltage of the corresponding battery cell has reached the first overcharge threshold or the first over-discharge threshold.

[0087] In step S311, a single first battery protection circuit acquires the voltage signal of the corresponding battery cell through its positive and negative input terminals. This step enables independent acquisition of the voltage state of each battery cell, thereby providing electrical parameters specific to that battery cell for subsequent judgment and protection.

[0088] In step S312, the individual first battery protection circuit compares the acquired voltage signal with preset first overcharge threshold and first over-discharge threshold. This step can identify whether the battery cell is in an overcharged or over-discharged state, thus providing a basis for determining whether individual protection actions need to be performed.

[0089] Therefore, through the above steps, each first battery protection circuit can independently complete the voltage acquisition and status judgment of its corresponding battery cell, enabling individual protection to provide differentiated responses for specific battery cells. This design helps to achieve local isolation when a single battery malfunctions, without affecting the normal operation of other parallel battery cells.

[0090] For example, when the first battery protection circuit corresponding to a single battery cell independently disconnects the charging and discharging circuit of that cell, the remaining battery cells and their corresponding first battery protection circuits operate normally and supply power to the outside through the second battery protection circuit. This design can isolate the abnormal battery cell through individual protection in the event of an abnormality (such as overcharging, over-discharging, or internal short circuit) without affecting the power output capability of other parallel battery cells. Compared to traditional solutions where a single point of failure may lead to a complete power outage, this structure can improve the continuity of battery pack power supply to a certain extent, which is beneficial for the continuous operation of wearable devices in the event of partial battery abnormalities.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0093] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0094] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0095] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0096] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0097] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery assembly, characterized in that, The battery assembly is used in wearable devices and includes: The main circuit board is disposed on the main body of the wearable device; A sub-circuit board, which is electrically connected to the main circuit board and is disposed on a non-main body portion of the wearable device; Multiple battery cells connected in parallel are disposed on the sub-circuit board; Multiple first battery protection circuits are integrated on the main circuit board. Each of the multiple first battery protection circuits corresponds to one of the multiple parallel-connected battery cells. The first battery protection circuit is used to independently perform overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for the corresponding battery cell. The second battery protection circuit is integrated on the main circuit board. The second battery protection circuit is used to perform overcharge protection, over-discharge protection and overcurrent protection on the multiple parallel-connected battery cells. The output terminals of the plurality of first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

2. The battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of first battery protection circuits correspond one-to-one with the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells, including: The first battery protection circuit is used to electrically connect to the positive and negative terminals of the corresponding battery cells through the electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board.

3. The battery assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The negative electrodes of the multiple parallel-connected battery cells are interconnected on the sub-circuit board to form a common negative electrode.

4. The battery assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second battery protection circuit is used to be electrically connected to the common negative terminal through the electrical connection between the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board, and is connected to the output terminal of all the first battery protection circuits.

5. The battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The battery assembly also includes: An interface is provided on the sub-circuit board for detachably connecting the sub-circuit board to the main circuit board.

6. The battery assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The main circuit board includes multiple positive contacts and at least two parallel common negative contacts. The interface includes spring pins, which include: Multiple positive electrode spring pins, each corresponding to a positive electrode contact; At least two parallel common negative electrode spring pins, each corresponding to one of the at least two parallel common negative electrode contacts.

7. The battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The main circuit board includes a printed circuit board.

8. The battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The sub-circuit board includes a flexible circuit board disposed within the wristband assembly of the wearable device.

9. A wearable device, characterized in that, The wearable device includes a main body and a wristband assembly; The main body includes a main circuit board, multiple first battery protection circuits, and second battery protection circuits. The wristband assembly includes a sub-circuit board and multiple battery cells connected in parallel. The sub-circuit board is electrically connected to the main circuit board; The plurality of battery cells connected in parallel are disposed on the sub-circuit board; The plurality of first battery protection circuits are integrated on the main circuit board. Each of the plurality of first battery protection circuits corresponds to one of the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells. The first battery protection circuit is used to independently perform overcharge protection and over-discharge protection for the corresponding battery cell. The second battery protection circuit is integrated on the main circuit board. The second battery protection circuit is used to perform overcharge protection, over-discharge protection and overcurrent protection on the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells. The output terminals of the plurality of first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

10. The wearable device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The wristband assembly also includes: An interface is provided on the sub-circuit board for detachably connecting the sub-circuit board to the main circuit board.

11. A battery protection method for a wearable device, characterized in that, The method is applied to a battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the battery assembly comprising a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, a plurality of first battery protection circuits, and a second battery protection circuit, the method comprising: The plurality of first battery protection circuits respectively monitor the voltage of each of the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells; The plurality of first battery protection circuits determine whether the voltage reaches a first overcharge threshold or a first over-discharge threshold. If the voltage of any of the battery cells is greater than or equal to the first overcharge threshold or less than or equal to the first over-discharge threshold, the first battery protection circuit corresponding to the battery cell independently cuts off the charging and discharging circuit of the battery cell. The second battery protection circuit monitors the total voltage and total current of the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells; The second battery protection circuit determines whether the total voltage reaches the second overcharge threshold or is less than or equal to the second over-discharge threshold, or determines whether the total current reaches the overcurrent threshold. If the total voltage is greater than or equal to the second overcharge threshold or less than or equal to the second over-discharge threshold, or if the total current is greater than or equal to the overcurrent threshold, the second battery protection circuit cuts off the charging and discharging circuits of the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells. The output terminals of the plurality of first battery protection circuits are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the input terminal of the second battery protection circuit.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The plurality of first battery protection circuits respectively monitor the voltage of each of the plurality of parallel-connected battery cells, including: Each of the first battery protection circuits collects the voltage signal of the corresponding battery cell; Each of the first battery protection circuits determines whether the voltage of the corresponding battery cell has reached the first overcharge threshold or the first over-discharge threshold.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, When the first battery protection circuit corresponding to a battery cell independently cuts off the charging and discharging circuit of that battery cell, the remaining battery cells and their corresponding first battery protection circuits operate normally and supply power to the outside through the second battery protection circuit.

Images