Charging distribution controller and system

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of battery charging, in particular to a charging distribution controller and system. The charging distribution controller comprises a composite input port, a control module and at least two charging channels. The composite input port is connected with an external charger through a same pair of wires and simultaneously receives electric energy and charging control instructions. The control module receives and analyzes the control instructions, obtains working state information of each charging channel, and outputs a channel conduction signal. Each charging channel comprises a channel input end, a controllable switch and a channel state output end. When the channel conduction signal is received, the power supply is turned on to charge a target battery, and the state is fed back to the control module. In cooperation with the communication and power adjustment module of the external charger, automatic rotation charging of multiple batteries can be realized, additional communication lines and power supply lines are not needed, the structure is simple, wiring is convenient, and the charging efficiency is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery charging technology, and more particularly to a charging distribution controller and system. Background Technology

[0002] Existing battery chargers typically charge only a single battery at a time. If users need to charge multiple batteries simultaneously, multiple independent chargers are required, or batteries must be charged on the same charger in rotation. This not only consumes time and manpower but also increases wiring complexity and operating costs. On the other hand, even if some existing solutions can achieve multi-channel charging through additional expansion devices, they often require laying separate communication lines or independent power lines, resulting in a bulky system and inconvenient installation.

[0003] Furthermore, in multi-channel charging expansion scenarios, the main charger cannot adjust the output voltage, current, or switch charging targets based on the real-time status of different batteries (e.g., whether the battery is full, whether the battery temperature is too high, whether a new battery is connected, etc.).

[0004] Therefore, how to use the same pair of wires to simultaneously transmit electrical energy and commands without the need for separate power supply and communication lines, and to achieve automatic alternating charging of multiple batteries, has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a charging distribution controller and system that addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies. It aims to transmit electrical energy and charging control commands simultaneously on the same pair of wires without adding independent communication lines or additional power supply lines. By combining the internal control module of the device with the working status information of multiple charging channels, it can realize the automated sequential charging of multiple batteries.

[0006] The present invention achieves the above objectives through the following technical solution: a charging distribution controller, comprising a composite input port, a control module, and at least two charging channels;

[0007] A composite input port is used to connect to the composite output port of an external main charger via the same pair of wires, and to simultaneously receive electrical energy and charging control commands from the composite output port.

[0008] The control module, electrically connected to the composite input port, is used to receive and parse the charging control command sent from the external main charger, obtain the working status information of at least two charging channels and generate the channel status feedback signal received by the external main charger, and select the target charging channel and output the channel conduction signal based on the charging control command and the working status information.

[0009] At least two charging channels are provided, each including a channel input terminal, a controllable switch, and a channel status output terminal; the channel input terminal is coupled to the composite input port and is used to receive electrical energy from the external main charger; the controllable switch has a control terminal connected to the control module and is used to turn on when the channel is turned on; the channel status output terminal is connected to the control module and is used to send the working status information of the charging channel to the control module.

[0010] The control module returns the channel status feedback signal to the external main charger, enabling the external main charger to charge multiple batteries sequentially without the need for additional power and communication cables.

[0011] As a further aspect of the present invention: a voltage regulator module is provided between the composite input port and the control module to convert the electrical energy received from the composite output port into a stable voltage so that the control module can operate normally.

[0012] As a further aspect of the present invention, the controllable switch is a MOSFET or a relay.

[0013] As a further aspect of the present invention, it also includes a detection unit, the input end of which is coupled to the channel input end of each charging channel, and the output end of which is connected to the control module, for detecting the battery voltage and / or current and / or temperature, and sending the detection results as the working status information to the control module.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: after determining the target charging channel, the control module outputs a conduction signal to the corresponding controllable switch and an off signal to other controllable switches at the same time, so as to realize the sequential or rotating operation mode of multiple charging channels.

[0015] As a further aspect of the present invention: the charging distribution controller further includes:

[0016] A single-wire communication control circuit, connected to the composite input port, is used for transmitting and receiving Variable Pulse Width Protocol (VPW) signals on the same pair of wires;

[0017] A supercapacitor unit is connected in parallel to the power input terminal of the control module to maintain the normal operation of the control module when the communication cycle level is pulled low.

[0018] The controllable switch is correspondingly set on the positive terminal line of each charging channel, and is used to provide a charging path for the corresponding battery when the control module outputs a channel conduction signal;

[0019] An undervoltage protection circuit, coupled to the composite input port, is used to block the power supply path and prevent excessive pull-down of the communication bus level when the input voltage is detected to be lower than a set threshold.

[0020] A charging distribution extension system, comprising:

[0021] An external main charger has a composite output port, which simultaneously outputs electrical energy and sends charging control commands through the same pair of wires.

[0022] The charging distribution controller is any of the charging distribution controllers described above, wherein the composite input port and the composite output port are connected through the same pair of wires;

[0023] The charging distribution controller receives the electrical energy and charging control commands output by the external main charger and returns the channel status feedback signal to the external main charger, thereby enabling automatic alternating charging of multiple batteries without the need for additional power supply lines and communication lines.

[0024] As a further aspect of the present invention: the external main charger further includes:

[0025] The communication module is used to modulate or superimpose charging control commands on the composite output port and receive channel status feedback signals from the charging distribution controller.

[0026] The power adjustment module is used to adjust the output voltage or current according to the channel status feedback signal.

[0027] As a further aspect of the present invention, the external main charger is also used to automatically enter standby mode or low power mode when it is detected that all charging channels are fully charged or no battery is connected, and to maintain a low current output on the composite output port for communication maintenance or monitoring.

[0028] A multi-channel automatic charging method includes the following steps:

[0029] Connection steps: Connect the composite input port of the charging distribution controller to the composite output port of the external main charger using the same pair of wires;

[0030] Power-on procedure: The external main charger outputs electrical energy through the composite output port and sends a charging control command to the charging distribution controller;

[0031] Status acquisition steps: The control module of the charging distribution controller acquires the working status information of at least two charging channels and returns the channel status feedback signal to the external main charger;

[0032] Channel selection step: Based on the charging control command and channel working status information, the control module of the charging distribution controller determines the target charging channel and outputs a channel activation signal;

[0033] Charging execution steps: The controllable switch of the target charging channel is turned on, and the external main charger provides charging to the battery connected to the charging channel;

[0034] Alternating charging steps: When the target charging channel is fully charged or malfunctions, the charging distribution controller turns off the controllable switch and executes the channel selection step again to charge the battery of the next target charging channel until all charging channels are fully charged or no battery is connected, thereby charging multiple batteries in turn.

[0035] Low-power step: When all charging channels are fully charged or no battery is connected, the charging distribution controller and the external main charger enter standby or low-power mode, and can complete the automatic multi-channel charging process without additional power supply or communication lines.

[0036] A circuit for multi-channel charging expansion, characterized in that it includes:

[0037] The input circuit is used to connect to the composite output port of the external main charger and receive electrical energy and single-wire communication signals from the composite output port.

[0038] A communication control unit is electrically connected to the input circuit. The communication control unit includes a variable pulse width protocol transmission circuit for generating low-level communication pulses on the charger output line, and a load resistor group that works with the variable pulse width protocol transmission circuit to pull down the output line level to form a single-line communication signal.

[0039] An energy storage module, connected in parallel with the input circuit, includes a supercapacitor and is used to maintain the operating power supply when the voltage is pulled low during the communication cycle.

[0040] The channel control unit, including a MOS transistor or a relay, is used to turn on the target output channel under the action of a control signal (i.e., a channel turn-on signal), so that the external main charger can provide charging to the corresponding battery;

[0041] An undervoltage protection circuit is located at the front end of the input circuit to detect the voltage of the composite output port and cut off the input power supply path when it is lower than a preset threshold, so as to prevent excessive discharge during the communication process.

[0042] The control module, interconnected with the communication control unit and the channel control unit, is used to parse the charging command received from the external main charger and output the conduction signal according to the working status of each charging channel, while feeding back the charging channel status to the external main charger.

[0043] The circuit for multi-channel charging extension can simultaneously achieve power input and single-line communication through the same pair of wires, completing the power distribution and channel control process of multi-channel automatic charging without the need for additional power supply lines or communication lines.

[0044] The charging distribution controller defined in this invention, through the coordinated design of three main parts—a composite input port, a control module, and at least two charging channels—can achieve automatic charging scheduling of multiple batteries without the need for additional wiring. Compared with the prior art, this invention has at least the following advantages:

[0045] 1. Simultaneous transmission of electrical energy and control commands via the same pair of wires: By setting up a composite input port, only one pair of wires is needed to connect to the external main charger to transmit the electrical energy required for charging, while simultaneously sending and receiving control commands. This solution significantly reduces wiring and connection requirements, eliminating the need for additional independent communication cables or auxiliary power supply lines, making the system simpler and more flexible.

[0046] 2. Multi-channel charging is centrally managed by a control module: At least two charging channels each include a controllable switch and a channel status output terminal; the opening and closing of the controllable switches are managed centrally by the control module. When the control module receives a charging control command from the external main charger and makes a judgment based on the working status information fed back from each channel, it can select the target charging channel and output a channel activation signal. This enables sequential power supply to multiple batteries, rapid switching, and fault isolation.

[0047] 3. Automatic switching charging is achieved through operational status feedback: The current channel's operating status (e.g., battery connection, charging progress, abnormal status, etc.) is sent to the control module via the channel status output terminal. The control module then feeds back the channel status to the external main charger. This information exchange allows the external main charger to know the actual needs of each channel in real time and adjust its output strategy accordingly. Compared to the traditional method with only unidirectional power output, the external main charger and the extension device of this invention form a closed-loop system that can automatically switch according to different channel statuses, reducing human intervention, shortening charging cycles, and improving equipment utilization efficiency.

[0048] 4. No need for additional controllers or power supply units: This invention particularly emphasizes "receiving electrical energy and charging control commands simultaneously through the same pair of wires," which is simpler and avoids cumbersome wiring compared to traditional designs that require separate power and communication lines. The entire device exposes only one composite input port, which can significantly reduce hardware size, lower costs, and improve the convenience of installation and maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0049] Figure 1 This is a wiring diagram of the external main charger of the present invention used as an independent charger.

[0050] Figure 2 Wiring diagram for connecting an external main charger to a charging distribution controller for use by multiple batteries.

[0051] Figure 3 This is a circuit diagram of the single-wire communication control circuit of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of the power supply circuit for the charging distribution controller of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 5 This is a circuit diagram of the MCU main control circuit of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 6 This is a circuit diagram of the indicator light circuit of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 7 This is a circuit diagram of the signal acquisition circuit of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 8 This is a circuit diagram of the charging channel output control circuit of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 9 This is a circuit diagram of the communication and discharge circuit of the present invention.

[0058] Figure 10 This is a partial schematic diagram of the transmission bits and start and end times of the VPW transmission protocol of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 11 This is a diagram showing the overall hardware architecture of the external main charger of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing the overall hardware architecture of the charging distribution controller of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 13 for Figure 11 The circuit schematic diagram, i.e., the circuit schematic diagram of the external main charger.

[0062] Figure 14 This is an example diagram of a communication method for the VPW transmission protocol of the present invention.

[0063] Figure 15 This is an example diagram of another communication method of the VPW transmission protocol of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0064] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It is understood that the accompanying drawings are provided for reference and illustration only, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The connection relationships shown in the accompanying drawings are only for clear description and do not limit the connection method.

[0065] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0066] like Figures 1-15 This invention provides a charging distribution controller that can be connected to an external main charger (also known as an "upstream charger") via the same pair of wires to achieve automatic, sequential charging of multiple batteries. Specifically:

[0067] A charging distribution controller includes a composite input port, a control module, and at least two charging channels;

[0068] A composite input port is used to connect to an external main charger via the same pair of wires, and to receive power and charging control commands from the external main charger simultaneously via the same pair of wires.

[0069] The control module, electrically connected to the composite input port, is used to receive and parse the charging control command sent from the external main charger, obtain the working status information of at least two charging channels and generate the channel status feedback signal received by the external main charger, and select the target charging channel and output the channel conduction signal based on the charging control command and the working status information.

[0070] At least two charging channels are provided, each including a channel input terminal, a controllable switch, and a channel status output terminal; the channel input terminal is coupled to the composite input port and is used to receive electrical energy from the external main charger; the controllable switch is used to turn on when the channel is turned on; the channel status output terminal is used to send the working status information of the charging channel to the control module.

[0071] The main functional features of the charging distribution controller in this solution are as follows:

[0072] It can be used as a standalone optional accessory for chargers, expanding the channels of an external main charger (i.e., a single-channel upstream charger) to multiple charging channels (similar to a USB bus docking station). The charging distribution controller does not require a separate power supply; it is powered by the external main charger (through its composite output port) via a two-wire connection. The expansion device does not require a separate communication cable; communication is achieved using the charging cable output from the external main charger. It employs a single-wire, low-speed, variable pulse width communication protocol, features a low-power design, and includes buttons and LED or LCD displays for corresponding operations and indications.

[0073] Circuit section of the charging distribution extension system

[0074] It mainly includes an external main charger circuit and a charging distribution controller circuit, both of which are equipped with a low-speed variable pulse width communication protocol.

[0075] External main charger circuit:

[0076] This includes an AC input circuit, power supply circuit, first MCU main control circuit, single-wire communication control circuit, current and voltage control circuit, output voltage and current sampling circuit, **controllable switch (such as MOS or relay)** control circuit, LED indicator or LCD display, and button processing circuit module. The charger also features an internal MOS transistor or transformer temperature sampling circuit for charger protection, and a battery temperature detection circuit to meet the temperature compensation requirements of the battery charging voltage in certain product segments.

[0077] Charging distribution controller circuit:

[0078] The system includes a power supply circuit, a second MCU main control circuit (part of the control module in this invention), a single-wire communication control circuit, a battery voltage sampling circuit, an LED indicator and button processing circuit, and a controllable switch circuit. The charging distribution controller circuit includes: a first charging interface, a second charging interface... and an Nth charging interface (this scheme uses four charging channels as an example). Each charging channel includes a channel input terminal (coupled to a composite input port), a set of controllable switches, and a signal acquisition output terminal (used to send operating status information).

[0079] Charging method

[0080] Method 1: Use as a standalone charger

[0081] Users can charge individual batteries by simply connecting the external main charger to the battery without needing to connect the charging distribution controller.

[0082] Method 2: Connect to a charging distribution controller to expand multi-channel charging.

[0083] First, connect the external main charger to the AC power supply. Then, connect the composite input port of the charging distribution controller to the composite output port of the external main charger using the same pair of wires. A power button can be provided on the charging distribution controller; pressing the button will turn on the controller circuit. After powering on, the charging distribution controller will first conduct a simple communication with the external main charger to confirm that the controller is online. This allows the external main charger to assess line loss and MOS / relay losses during the charging process based on the actual usage scenario.

[0084] Normally, the charging distribution controller checks the voltage of each battery channel one by one. When it detects a battery waiting to be charged in a certain charging channel, it activates the corresponding controllable switch to start the charging process. After the external main charger finishes charging that channel, it notifies the charging distribution controller to switch to another charging channel. The charging distribution controller continues to check if there is a battery waiting to be charged in the next channel. If there is, it notifies the external main charger to start charging; otherwise, it proceeds to the next channel... This cycle continues until multiple batteries are charged in turn.

[0085] This invention addresses the pain point of users needing expanded multi-channel charging. It can independently charge a single battery or, when paired with a charging distribution controller, automatically charge or maintain multiple batteries in turn. Through digital MCU technology, the external main charger can control charging voltage, current, and charging time according to user settings, including charging sequence and maintenance functions. Furthermore, it can be customized with hardware to include buttons and LCD or LED displays for intelligent human-machine interaction.

[0086] According to information published on the Business Research website (see link: https: / / www.businessresearchinsights.com / zh / market-reports / battery-charger-market-102762), the global battery charger market size was US$23,361.26 million in 2022 and is projected to reach US$51,970.89 million by 2032, representing a CAGR of 7.54%. Common smart chargers typically only charge a single battery at a time. If users want to charge multiple batteries simultaneously, they must purchase multiple chargers or manually rotate the batteries, which is both time-consuming and expensive. This invention addresses this by adding a small amount of single-wire communication circuitry to existing chargers and using a low-cost charging distribution controller, enabling automatic rotation charging of multiple batteries without the need for additional power or communication cables.

[0087] Uplink external main charger ( Figure 3 (Illustration)

[0088] The external main charger is similar to a regular smart charger, except that it has an additional single-wire communication circuit and protocol with the charging distribution controller. See Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the communication circuit. Figure 3 C-BUS1 or C-BUS2 is the communication control terminal. When the C-BUS control pin signal is high or low, it corresponds to the high or low output control pin of the charger. Due to the low-speed communication, the baud rate is approximately 100~300bps, which can be adjusted during the specific development process.

[0089] The schematic diagram of the expandable multi-channel charging distribution controller consists of several parts: power supply circuit, second MCU main control circuit (control module), indicator light circuit, signal acquisition circuit, charging channel output control circuit, and communication and discharge circuit. Each part is briefly described below.

[0090] Power supply circuit ( Figure 4 )

[0091] To eliminate the need for an external power supply, this design draws power from the output of the external main charger (composite output port). Power can also be drawn from the 4-channel battery button for short-term (or in case of mains power failure) activation of the charging distribution controller. Since the charging cable also serves as a communication line when not charging, the voltage level is pulled low during communication. Therefore, the circuit includes a supercapacitor to handle the low-level state during communication and maintain MCU power supply. In the diagram, VI+ is the positive output terminal of the charger above (corresponding wiring to the composite input port), and GND is the common ground. To prevent the communication bus from being pulled low during power draw, this circuit incorporates undervoltage protection. It uses voltage division to determine if the bus voltage is greater than 6V; otherwise, it cuts off power to prevent communication abnormalities. To maintain power supply, this circuit uses four large-capacity electrolytic capacitors (C5 / C6 / C7 / C8) and a 1F supercapacitor C9 for the MCU power supply section.

[0092] Second MCU main control circuit ( Figure 5 )

[0093] The MCU main control circuit corresponds to the control module part of this invention, including various signal control pins, reset and programming / simulation debugging interface, and a button SW2 for functions such as forced start, stop or switching of a charging channel indicator light.

[0094] Indicator light circuit ( Figure 6 )

[0095] It includes indicator lights for four charging channels, and two additional lights to indicate system operating or communication status. The software can be configured to keep the lights on while charging, flash during standby, and turn off when the battery is empty.

[0096] Signal acquisition circuit ( Figure 7 )

[0097] It is used to collect information such as input voltage, output voltage of four charging channels and internal temperature, and feeds it back to the control module as working status information to realize automated management.

[0098] Charging channel output control circuit ( Figure 8 )

[0099] For the circuit design with four charging channels, each channel uses a pair of P-MOS transistors. The control pins PMOS1 to PMOS4 are connected to the MCU, and the control module can output a channel turn-on signal or a turn-off signal. For high-power applications, the P-MOS transistors can be replaced with relays.

[0100] Communication and discharge circuit ( Figure 9 )

[0101] The circuit includes a low-speed single-wire communication control circuit and a discharge loop. When in standby or when the charging bus is idle, the MCU can pull the external main charger's output signal VI+ low via the Load signal to achieve a single-wire communication "low" signal. It is agreed that when not charging, the charger's maximum output current is approximately 0.2A, used to simultaneously power the charging distribution controller and send communication signals. When a low level is required, the MCU sets the Load pin high, turning on MOSFET Q13, allowing the high-power discharge resistor group R68 and others to discharge simultaneously, pulling VI+ low to achieve communication.

[0102] External main charger hardware architecture ( Figure 11 )

[0103] like Figure 11 As shown, it mainly includes a power supply circuit, a first main MCU, voltage regulation, voltage sampling, current sampling, temperature sampling, key processing, LED or LCD display, charging control, communication control, and other parts. Figure 13 A more detailed circuit diagram is provided. This design can be directly connected to a battery for charging, or it can be connected to the charging distribution controller of this invention for multi-channel extended charging.

[0104] The circuit diagram of the external main charger (see) Figure 13 ,correspond Figure 11 )

[0105] 1) Power supply module for the charger's control section: Since the MCU's power supply voltage is 3.3V, the power is drawn from the auxiliary winding of the AC / DC transformer, which is filtered and converted into either a DC auxiliary power supply or the main power supply for charging the battery. The power supply is shared by these two inputs; in actual use, the input with the higher voltage (VCC) is used. An LDO HT7533 linear regulator is used to step down the voltage to 3.3V to power the MCU and peripheral devices.

[0106] 2) The high-precision sampling resistors R51, R43, R44, and R32, together with the operational amplifier U4, form a current sampling amplifier circuit, which is used to sample the output current.

[0107] 3) The first MCU is a domestic GD32E230C8T6, which, along with ADB, ADC, ADBT, and ADUT, are used for battery voltage sampling, output current sampling, battery temperature sampling (optional), and internal temperature sampling, respectively.

[0108] 4) The voltage loop control signal PWV and the current loop control signal PWA output by the MCU are both PWM signals output by the internal timer of the MCU. The frequency is generally between 1 and 6KHz. After RC filtering, they are combined with the voltage and current sampling signals to form the control signals of the voltage loop and the current loop. The operational amplifiers U4-D and U4-B are used to compare and realize voltage and current control respectively.

[0109] 5) The MOSFET output signal ON, MOSFETs Q10~Q11 and transistor Q9 form a MOSFET drive control circuit for charging output control.

[0110] 6) S1 is a button. When the MCU detects that the button signal is low, it means that the button is pressed. It is used to switch the battery type, or to cut off the current level by pressing and holding.

[0111] 7) LED1~LED6 are indicator lights for charging status and battery voltage status.

[0112] 8) LOAD2 can be used as a discharge circuit, and at the same time, it can be used as a drive communication control signal during communication.

[0113] Another key point to mention is that this solution focuses on the function of "the charging distribution controller receiving electrical energy and charging commands through the same pair of wires and completing multi-channel automatic charging." Therefore, the focus of this solution is on how to configure a control module (second MCU) and corresponding circuitry within this independent distribution controller to achieve distribution and automatic control. Preferably, the external main charger also has a control module (first MCU) and corresponding circuitry configured inside, and the external main charger and the charging distribution controller communicate using appropriate handshake protocols, such as the VPW protocol.

[0114] Overall hardware architecture of the charging distribution controller ( Figure 12 )

[0115] like Figure 12 It mainly includes a second main MCU, power supply circuit, single-wire communication control circuit, voltage sampling, temperature sampling, button and LED (or LCD) indicator circuit, and external charging channel control circuit, etc. Figure 15A detailed control circuit schematic is further provided. The MCU (control module) monitors the voltage at each channel output port and, based on the required charging voltage start-up conditions, coordinates with digital control logic to distribute charging to multiple batteries in turn.

[0116] The circuit schematic of the charging distribution controller (see...) Figures 4-9 ,correspond Figure 12 )

[0117] 1) The charging distribution controller is powered by an external main charger or battery: When the connected external main charger has normal output or output communication waveform, the charging distribution controller can directly draw power from the output section of the connected charger. Generally, the maximum output current of the connected charger is 0.2A when charging is not started. When the charger outputs communication data, the power supply circuit of the distribution controller has a 6V undervoltage protection function, that is, power will only be supplied to the power supply section when the communication level is above 6V. Since this charging distribution controller is a low-power MCU, the power supply circuit has a large electrolytic capacitor and a 3.3V LDO converter, and also a supercapacitor to maintain normal power supply to the MCU. When the connected charger is not connected to mains power and has no output, the user can use the button ( Figure 4 SW1 in the middle draws power directly from the battery.

[0118] 2) The core controller (second MCU) U1 uses the domestic GigaDevice MCU GD32E230 (or other MCUs), which has a multi-channel analog-to-digital conversion channel, including four channels of battery voltage sampling (ADVB1~ADVB4), sampling of input voltage VI (ADVIN), one channel of temperature signal sampling, and four charging indicator lights and two working or communication indicator lights.

[0119] 3) R4, R3, Q13, D2 and four high-power resistors R68, R70, R72 and R73 form a discharge circuit, which is used to pull down the communication line VI during communication (the maximum current provided on line VI during communication is 0.2A).

[0120] 4) In the signal acquisition section, R1 and R2 form a voltage divider sampling circuit for the input VI of the external main charger. A small capacitor C1 is used for high-frequency filtering of the sampled signal to reduce interference. R7 adds a bias voltage for short-circuiting or reversing the charger connection. Similarly, R17, R19, C17, and R18 form a voltage divider sampling circuit for the battery voltage of channel CH1+; R11, R12, C16, and R13 form a sampling circuit for the battery voltage of CH2+; R15, R16, C14, and R14 form a sampling circuit for the battery voltage of CH3+; and R9, R10, C13, and R8 form a sampling circuit for the battery voltage of CH4+. Additionally, R5 and the NTC resistor R67 form a temperature sampling circuit to detect the internal temperature. If the temperature is too high, the input can be shut off to protect the device.

[0121] 5) The charging output control section PMOS1 and PMOS4 signals are 4-way output control pins, which, together with the corresponding Q1 and Q4, are used for level conversion to drive 4 pairs of MOSFETs (Q5 / Q6Q11 / Q12), which serve as controllable switches for the four charging channels CH1 and CH4 respectively (for high power, relays can be used instead; this schematic and document use MOSFETs as an example).

[0122] Core Control: The core concept of this invention lies in using a control module, i.e., an MCU, to monitor the voltage of multiple output ports. Combined with a variable pulse width single-wire communication protocol (VPW), it interacts with an external main charger to enable the main charger to obtain the real-time status of each charging channel. Without the need for independent communication lines or additional power supply lines, the control module schedules each controllable switch to achieve sequential charging and fault isolation of multiple batteries, thus achieving the purpose of intelligent charging and management.

[0123] Variable Pulse Width (VPW) Single-Wire Communication Protocol Figure 10 , Figure 14 , Figure 15 )

[0124] See Figure 10 This protocol uses a Variable Pulse Width (VPW) mode, which requires only one line for transmission, with a protocol rate range of 100~300bps. It is a half-duplex communication mode. Figure 10 The VPW transmission protocol specifies the transmission bits and start / end times. A key characteristic of VPW transmission is the continuous voltage level switching. Communication levels are defined as low below 1V and high above 5V. Each byte uses an 8-bit binary number, and the communication pin is VI+ (positive output of the host charger). Data transmission is single-wire. Transmission is based on data bits, and a start frame (SOF) or end frame (EOF) is defined.

[0125] The start bit is a low-level transition followed by a high-level transition and a 3500µs duration ("SOF / EOF"), or a high-level transition followed by a low-level transition and a 3500µs duration ("SOF / EOF"). The data bits after the start bit are represented as follows: the level continuously toggles, generating a new data bit with each toggle. This data bit is either "0" or "1," determined by the duration of the toggle. Data bit "0" is represented by a 1000µs low level or a 2500µs high level, and data bit "1" is represented by a 1000µs high level or a 2500µs low level. In other words:

[0126] A high-level transition to a low-level state is maintained for 2500µs as "1", or a low-high-level transition to a high-level state is maintained for 1000µs as "1".

[0127] A high-level transition to a low-level state is maintained for 1000µs and is considered "0", or a low-high-level transition to a high-level state is maintained for 2500µs and is considered "0".

[0128] This protocol specifies that data is sent with the most significant bit first and the least significant bit last. Specific application layer data protocols are not described in detail here. More specifically:

[0129] This protocol is a Variable Pulse Width (VPW) mode, which requires only one line for transmission and has a data rate range of 100~300bps. It is a half-duplex communication mode. The following are examples illustrating this communication protocol in two different scenarios:

[0130] See Figure 14 This describes the high / low level and duration of a binary byte (0101 0001) to be sent using the VPW protocol. Starting with the current level as low, a start signal is sent first, followed by a high transition and 3500µs, indicating the start of data frame transmission. The following describes the process of sending 0101 0001:

[0131] Sending the first bit 0: After transitioning to a low level, maintain it for 1000µs.

[0132] Sending the second bit 1: After transitioning to a high level, maintain it for 1000µs.

[0133] Sending the third bit 0: After transitioning to a low level, maintain it for 1000µs.

[0134] Sending bit 4 (1): After transitioning to a high level, maintains it for 1000µs.

[0135] Sending bit 5 (0): After transitioning to low, maintains a low level for 1000µs.

[0136] Sending bit 6 (0): After transitioning to a high level, maintains it for 2500µs.

[0137] Sending bit 7 (0): After transitioning to low, maintains a low level for 1000µs.

[0138] Sending bit 8 (1): After transitioning to a high level, maintains it for 1000µs.

[0139] End of transmission frame marker: After transitioning to low level, it remains low for 3500µs.

[0140] See Figure 15 This describes the high / low level and duration of a binary byte (0101 0001) to be sent using the VPW protocol. Starting with the current level as high, a start signal is sent first, followed by a low transition and 3500µs, indicating the start of data frame transmission. The following describes the process of sending 0101 0001:

[0141] Sending the first bit 0: After transitioning to a high level, maintain it for 2500µs.

[0142] Sending the second bit 1: After transitioning to a low level, maintain it for 2500µs.

[0143] Sending the third bit 0: After transitioning to a high level, maintain it for 2500µs.

[0144] Sending bit 4 (1): After transitioning to low, maintains a low level for 2500µs.

[0145] Sending bit 5 (0): After transitioning to a high level, maintains it for 2500µs.

[0146] Sending bit 6 (0): After transitioning to low, maintains a low level for 1000µs.

[0147] Sending bit 7 (0): After transitioning to a high level, maintains it for 2500µs.

[0148] Sending bit 8 (1): After transitioning to low, maintains a low level for 2500µs.

[0149] End-of-transmission frame marker: After transitioning to a high level, it remains high for 3500µs.

[0150] Both of the above data transmission waveforms are transmitted in hexadecimal format as 0x51.

[0151] As can be seen from the waveform duration, the duration of transmitting a frame of data is different with this variable pulse width modulation method. Even when transmitting the same frame of data, the transmission duration is different under different starting levels.

[0152] The application layer protocol is defined using a master-slave model, which can be further customized according to specific requirements. It can transmit data to the main charger based on battery type, charging current, voltage at each stage, line loss compensation, and other parameters.

[0153] Finally, it should be noted that any cross-referencing or superposition of the various embodiments of this solution by those skilled in the art still falls within the original disclosure scope of this solution. Furthermore, the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A charging distribution controller, characterized in that, Includes a composite input port, a control module, and at least two charging channels; The composite input port, connected to an external main charger, is used to receive power and charging control commands from the external main charger. The control module, electrically connected to the composite input port, is used to receive charging control commands sent from the external main charger, acquire the working status information of at least two charging channels and generate channel status feedback signals received by the external main charger, and select a target charging channel and output a channel conduction signal based on the charging control commands and the working status information. At least two charging channels, each charging channel including a channel input terminal, a controllable switch and a channel status output terminal; The channel input terminal is coupled to the composite input port and is used to receive electrical energy from the external main charger; the controllable switch is used to turn on when the channel turn-on signal is received; the channel status output terminal is used to send the working status information of the charging channel to the control module.

2. The charging distribution controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, A voltage regulator module is provided between the composite input port and the control module to convert the electrical energy received from the composite output port into a stable voltage.

3. The charging distribution controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controllable switch is a MOSFET or a relay; The composite input port is used to connect to an external main charger via the same pair of wires, and to receive power and charging control commands from the external main charger simultaneously via these wires.

4. The charging distribution controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a detection unit, the input of which is coupled to the channel input of each charging channel, and the output of which is connected to the control module. The detection unit is used to detect the battery voltage and / or current and / or temperature, and send the detection results as the working status information to the control module.

5. The charging distribution controller according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, After determining the target charging channel, the control module outputs an on signal to the corresponding controllable switch and an off signal to other controllable switches.

6. The charging distribution controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging distribution controller also includes: A single-wire communication control circuit, connected to the composite input port, is used for transmitting and receiving variable pulse width protocol signals on the same pair of wires; A supercapacitor unit is connected in parallel to the power input terminal of the control module to maintain the operation of the control module when the communication cycle level is pulled low. The controllable switch is correspondingly set on the positive terminal line of each charging channel, and is used to provide a charging path for the corresponding battery when the control module outputs a channel conduction signal; An undervoltage protection circuit, coupled to the composite input port, is used to block the power supply path and prevent excessive pull-down of the communication bus level when the input voltage is detected to be lower than a set threshold.

7. A charging distribution extension system, characterized in that, include: An external main charger has a composite output port, which simultaneously outputs electrical energy and sends charging control commands through the same pair of wires. The charging distribution controller is the charging distribution controller according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the composite input port and the composite output port are connected through the same pair of wires.

8. The charging distribution expansion system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The external main charger also includes: The communication module is used to modulate or superimpose charging control commands on the composite output port and receive channel status feedback signals. The power adjustment module is used to adjust the output voltage or current according to the channel status feedback signal.

9. The charging distribution expansion system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The external main charger is also used to automatically enter standby mode or low power mode when it detects that all charging channels are fully charged or no battery is connected, and to maintain low current output on the composite output port.

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