A system and method for battery charging using circuit modeling.

Abstract

A system (100) for charging a battery (104) includes a first switch (312, 412) coupled to a power source (302). An inductive element (318) (which may be part of a filter) is coupled to the switch. The system includes a processor (106, 306, 406) in communication with the switch (312, 412) and in communication with a model (114) of the inductive element. Control of the switch by the processor generates a train of pulses in the first inductive element to generate a shaped charging waveform for the model of the inductive element (318).

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0005]

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 132,250, "Systems and Methods for Battery Cell Charging Using Circuit Modeling," filed on December 30, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to systems and methods for charging a battery, and more particularly, prior to application to a battery, to systems and methods for generating a shaped charging signal that includes a model of circuit components involved in shaping a signal and / or filtering unwanted frequency components from the signal.

Background Art

[0003] Countless different types of electric devices, such as power tools, mobile computing and mobile communication devices, portable electronic devices, and all kinds of electric vehicles including scooters and bicycles, use rechargeable batteries as an operating power source. Rechargeable batteries are subject to the limitation of finite battery capacity and need to be recharged when depleted. Recharging a battery can often be inconvenient because the electric device often cannot be moved during the time required for recharging. Depending on the size of the battery, recharging can take several hours. Furthermore, battery charging often involves a degradation in battery performance. Therefore, in particular, a great deal of effort has been devoted to the development of battery charging technologies for shortening the time required for battery recharging, improving battery performance, and reducing battery degradation due to charging.

[0004] In particular, in view of these observations, the various aspects of the present disclosure have been devised and developed.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for charging a battery, comprising a first switch operably coupled to a power supply. The system further comprises a first inductor, which may be, among many possible inductors, a single inductor, a plurality of inductors coupled in series, parallel, or a combination thereof, operably communicating with the first switch, a transformer, or an inductive part of a transformer, such as the primary or secondary winding of a transformer. The system further comprises a processor communicating with the switch and a model of the inductor. Additional components may also be modeled. The processor is configured to generate a shaped charge waveform in response to executing a model to generate a shaped charge waveform by generating a pulse train in the first inductor through the execution of instructions to control the switch.

[0006] In various embodiments, the processor may be further configured to execute pulse trains according to a model and to adjust the pulse trains to generate a shaped waveform. Other characteristics may also be modeled. In one example, the model may include a configurable inductance value and a configurable resistance value. The processor may be further configured to, by executing instructions, apply a known signal to an inductor and obtain a first measurement result (e.g., current or voltage) at a first point of the known signal and a second measurement result (e.g., current or voltage) at a second point of the known signal, and to calibrate the model by changing at least one of the configurable inductance value or the configurable resistance value if at least one of the first measurement result at the first point or the second measurement result at the second point does not match the first target measurement result at the first point or the second target measurement result at the second point, respectively.

[0007] In various additional embodiments, the system may further include a second switch (e.g., a transistor or diode) in communication with a first switch (e.g., a transistor) at a common node operably coupled with an inductive element, more generally a filter containing an inductive element. Various forms of switches other than filters may be modeled.

[0008] The system may further include a second inductor coupled to a first inductor, with both the first and second elements being part of a filter. In various possible embodiments, the battery may be operably coupled to the first inductor, the second inductor, and more generally, the filter, to receive a shaped charging waveform. In various embodiments, the charging waveform may be shaped, and the signal may be shaped into a constant signal, although conventional constant-current or constant-voltage charging signals are not applied. A capacitor, which may also be part of the filter, may be coupled between the first inductor, the second inductor, and neutral (ground).

[0009] In another embodiment, the capacitor may be operably coupled to a power supply and a first switch. The capacitor is configured and arranged to generate a shaped charge waveform by a first inductive element and / or (more commonly) a filter by delivering energy (e.g., a shaped current) through the switch.

[0010] The model may further include a model of a second inductor and a model of the battery to be charged. The model elements of the battery, in addition to the first and second inductors, may be combined and represented by inductance values. The model may also include resistance values ​​for various filter elements, which can be combined.

[0011] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for charging a battery includes generating a shaped charge waveform in response to a processor communicating with a model of a filter including a first inductive element coupled to a switch, by generating a pulse train in the filter under control of the switch. The method may further include generating a known signal from the filter by generating a pulse train in the filter element, and calibrating the model by adjusting at least one attribute of the model if the measured attribute of the known signal does not match a target measurement result.

[0012] Calibration of the model may include, if at least one attribute of the model includes a configurable inductance value and a configurable resistance value, applying a known signal to the filter, obtaining a first measurement result at a first point of the known signal and a second measurement result at a second point of the known signal, and changing at least one of the configurable inductance value or the configurable resistance value if at least one of the first measurement result at the first point or the second measurement result at the second point does not match the first target measurement result at the first point or the second target measurement result at the second point, respectively.

[0013] The filter may further include a second inductor coupled to a first inductor, which is a first inductor, and a capacitor coupled between the first inductor, the second inductor, and a neutral. The model may model these various additional filter components individually or in combination. The model may further include one or more switches. The model may further include a capacitor operably coupled to a power supply and operably coupled to a switch.

[0014] The various purposes, features, and advantages of the disclosure described herein will become apparent from the following descriptions of embodiments of each inventive concept, as shown in the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and may represent various features of one embodiment, with emphasis on describing the principles of the inventive concept and other aspects. Also, the same reference numerals across different drawings may represent the same or similar parts. The embodiments and drawings disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a system diagram of a charging system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a signal graph of an example of a controlled, arbitrary-shaped charging waveform for charging a battery, according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing a circuit for charging a battery according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing a circuit for charging a battery according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows a method for generating a charging signal using a circuit model according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This flowchart illustrates a method for generating a charging signal using a circuit model, according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of a generated charging signal based on the filter circuit model for the first inductor and the second inductor of the filter circuit. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a test signal used for model calibration. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a computer system that can be used to implement the embodiments of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] This specification discloses systems, circuits, and methods for charging (recharging) batteries. The terms charging and recharging are used synonymously in this specification. Aspects of this disclosure may offer several advantages over conventional charging, either individually or in combination. For example, the charging techniques described herein may have several subsequent effects, including reduced damage to electrodes and other battery components, and a reduced risk of fire or short circuits, by reducing the rate at which the anode is damaged and by reducing heat generation during charging. In another example, the charging techniques described herein may enable the application of higher charge rates to batteries, thereby enabling faster charging. Conversely, the systems, circuits, and methods described herein may reduce the energy required to charge a battery compared to various forms of conventional charging circuits and methods. All of these techniques allow for optimization of the charge rate used, taking into account other issues such as cycle life and temperature. In one example, optimizing the charge rate and parameters can extend battery life and increase charging energy efficiency.

[0017] In one example, in various embodiments discussed herein, a battery is charged by generating a controllably shaped charge signal using a model of one or more components of a charge signal shaping circuit. Conventional charging techniques, such as constant current or constant voltage, do not involve shaping the charge signal and are therefore relatively easy to control and do not require the modeling techniques discussed herein. In one embodiment, the charge signal shaping algorithm may provide a circuit model with an expected or target charge signal for charging the battery. This model may be used to verify and / or adjust the control for generating the signal. The model may also output one or more control signals to components of the charge signal shaping circuit, such as switches, based on the target charge signal and based on the modeling of the components of the charge signal shaping circuit. In some cases, the shape of the shaped charge signal may correspond to harmonics (or multiple harmonics) associated with the optimal transfer of energy to the battery, while the objective of the system is, among many other objectives, to efficiently generate a charge signal of any shape and make it applicable to the battery. This shape may be any shape defined by the control, but is controlled independently of that. The control signals for the components of the charging signal shaping circuit may be based on a model of the circuit components, rather than being feedback of the charging signal from the battery during charging or the measurement results of the battery itself, such as voltage and current, which are representative of the battery charging circuit. In some cases, this technique is referred to as "feedforward" technology.

[0018] This feedforward technique, which uses a circuit model to determine the control signal for defining the charging signal, can offer several advantages, including improved accuracy and speed of signal tuning. Furthermore, because this configuration can operate with fewer components than other methods, it can achieve several advantages, including reduced costs and a smaller PCB area.

[0019] In practice, relying solely on a circuit model without some form of feedback is difficult, particularly for adjusting model errors, component drift, the influence of temperature and other factors on circuit components, battery changes, and modifying the output by periodically providing additional data to the model. For example, during the operation of a charging circuit, the behavior of the battery during charging can change in response to the charge state (SoC), health (SoH), etc. Therefore, in some cases, the battery behavior may be acquired and used to adjust the circuit model. The model may cover various components of the circuit used to shape and filter the charging signal. Since the values ​​and functions of these components change over time, such changes can be covered in the model. Generally, circuit modeling provides estimation and preliminary determination of the charging signal to counteract the relatively slow feedback paths from the battery and other sensors. As an addition or alternative to this, modeling provides a means by which effective signal control can be achieved without the costly and valuable power and PCB area consumption of complex signal measurements, component measurements, or other feedback mechanisms. Nevertheless, model updates based on feedback information may still adjust the model's response based on changes in the battery and / or circuit components.

[0020] In the art and in this specification, the term "battery" can be used in various ways and can represent not only individual cells having an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte (solid or liquid), but also an assembly of such cells connected in various arrangements. A battery or battery cell is a form of an electrochemical device. A battery generally includes repeating units of opposing charge sources and electrode layers separated by an ion-conductive barrier (often a liquid saturated with an electrolyte or a polymer membrane). Since these layers are configured to be thin, a plurality of units can occupy the volume of the battery, and the available power of the battery increases as the units are stacked. In this specification, many examples applicable to batteries are discussed, but it should be understood that the described systems and methods can be applied to many different types of batteries, from individual cells to batteries including various possible interconnections of cells such as cells connected in parallel, in series, and in series-parallel. For example, the systems and methods discussed herein can be applied to battery packs including many cells arranged to provide a specified pack voltage, output current, and / or capacity. Further, the embodiments discussed herein can be applied to different types of electrochemical devices, such as, to name but a few, various different types of lithium batteries (including but not limited to lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries), lead-acid batteries, various types of nickel batteries, solid-state batteries, etc. Also, the various embodiments discussed herein can be applied to battery configurations of various structures, such as button or "coin" type batteries, cylindrical cells, pouch cells, and prismatic cells, etc.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary charge signal generator configuration 100 for recharging a battery 104. The generator includes a processing or control unit 106 which may include a controller 108 such as a microcontroller, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), microprocessor, a combination thereof, or other processing configuration, and may include a filter 112. The controller communicates with a model 114 of the components of the charge signal shaping unit and / or filter to generate control commands to the charge signal shaping unit. The control unit, including the controller and model, may be an integrated unit. The system may also receive battery measurement results, such as current and / or voltage measurement results at the battery terminals of the battery 104, from a battery measurement circuit 116 in the presence of a charge signal or calibration signal, etc., and use them to calibrate or adjust the model, or to influence the charge control. Generally, the generator may include a power supply 118 (which may be a voltage source or a current source) or may be operably coupled to the power supply 118. In one embodiment, the power supply 118 is a direct current (DC) power supply, but an alternating current (AC) power supply is also possible. In various options, the power supply 118 may include a DC source that supplies unidirectional current, an AC source that supplies bidirectional current, or a power supply that supplies ripple current (such as an AC signal DC-biased so that the current is unidirectional). Generally, the power supply 118 supplies charging energy (e.g., current) that can be shaped by the control unit 106 and filter components to generate a controllably shaped charging signal for charging the battery 104. In one example, the circuit controller 108 may provide one or more inputs to a power signal shaping circuit to generate pulses to the filter, thereby generating a shaped charging signal to the battery at the output of the filter.

[0022] In some cases, the charge signal shaping circuit 110 may generate a charge signal shaped based on the state of charge of the battery 104, such as a charge signal in which at least a part corresponds to one or more harmonics based on the impedance when a signal including harmonics or attributes of harmonics is applied to the battery 104 by changing the energy from the power supply 118. In an example such as FIG. 1, the circuit 100 may include a battery measurement circuit 116 that is connected to the battery 104 to measure the cell voltage and / or charging current, as well as other battery attributes such as temperature, and measures or calculates the impedance of the battery 104. In one example, the battery characteristics may be measured based on the applied charge signal. In another example, battery cell characteristics may be measured as part of a routine for characterizing the cell by applying a signal whose frequency attribute changes to generate a wide range of battery cell characteristic values associated with different frequency attributes, which may be performed periodically before, during, and during charging, and may also be used in combination with search techniques and other techniques. Battery characteristics can vary based on many physical or chemical characteristics of the battery (including the state of charge and / or temperature of the battery). Therefore, the battery measurement circuit 116 may, under the control of the circuit controller 106, determine various battery characteristic values of the battery 104 during recharging, among other timings, and provide the measurement results of the battery characteristic values to the circuit controller 108 or other parts of the generator 100.

[0023] The circuit controller 108 may generate a target charge signal for efficient charging of the battery 104. For example, the circuit controller 108 may generate a charge signal with attributes corresponding to harmonics associated with the minimum impedance value of the battery 104, using a signal definition characterized by understanding the measured impedance of the battery 104 or the effect of the signal on the impedance of the battery. For this purpose, the circuit controller 108 may execute a charge signal algorithm that outputs the shape of the charge signal based on the measured, characterized, and / or estimated charge state of the battery 104. The circuit controller 108 may then generate one or more control signals based on the charge signal algorithm and provide these control signals to the charge signal shaping unit 110. Among its many functions, the control signals can approximate the shaped charge signal determined by the algorithm by shaping the charge signal. The charge signal shaping circuit (or, more specifically, a filter) may further filter out any unwanted frequency attributes from the signal. In some cases, the shaped charge signal may be a charge signal of any shape, such as a repeating square wave or triangular wave charge signal, which does not fit conventional repeating charge signals.

[0024] For example, Figure 2 is a signal diagram 202 of a battery charging signal 200 of arbitrary shape for charging a battery cell 204. Although the shape is described arbitrarily, it should be understood that it is controlled and can take any shape depending on the control. Signal diagram 202 shows a charging signal 208 graphed as input current 204 versus time 206. The shape of the charging signal 208 may be determined by a charging signal algorithm or program executed by the circuit controller 210. In one example, the shape of the charging signal 208 may be based on the characteristics of the battery cell 204, such as the minimum impedance value of the battery cell 204. In another example, the shape of the charging signal 208 may correspond to harmonics associated with the impedance value of the cell. In these examples, various parts of the shape are based, in particular, on the impedance response of different harmonics. In many examples, the shape is based on the lowest impedance or harmonics around it, but is not limited to the harmonics of the lowest impedance. In some cases, the signals, such as those shown in Figure 2, may be a repeating sequence of such signals (e.g., 208(a) to 208(n)) between periods of time when little or no charging current 210 is applied to the battery and periods when charging current (e.g., signals 208(a) or 208(n)) is applied to the battery. In yet another example, various forms of the shape of the charging signal 208 may correspond to harmonics associated with one or both of the conductance or susceptance of the admittance of the battery 104. When considering impedance values, this technique evaluates harmonic values ​​whose values ​​are relatively low impedance, either individually or in combination. These techniques evaluate relatively high harmonics in admittance, which consist of either conductance and susceptance individually or in combination. Given a roughly inverse relationship, the term impedance as used herein may include its reciprocal, admittance. Generally, the charging signal shaping algorithm of the generator 100 can deform or otherwise determine the shape of the charging signal 208 based on any characteristics (measured, modeled, or estimated) of the battery 104.

[0025] Pulse charging has been studied in several conventional charging scenarios. However, it has been found that applying a square wave pulse charging signal to charge a battery can shorten battery life or make battery charging inefficient. For example, the abrupt application of charging current to the battery electrodes (usually the anode) (e.g., the sharp leading edge of a square wave pulse) can cause a large initial impedance between the battery terminals, resulting in a lack of power transmission to the battery and, among many other problems, a decrease in the efficiency of the charging process and / or partial damage to the battery during charging.

[0026] Rapid changes in the charging signal to a battery using square wave pulses can introduce noise consisting of high-frequency harmonics at the leading edge and trailing edge of the square wave pulse, and during the use of conventional inverse pulse methods. These high harmonics result in high impedance at the battery electrodes. Such high impedance can lead to numerous inefficiencies and battery degradation, including capacity loss, heat generation, imbalances in electrokinetic activity throughout the battery, undesirable electrochemical responses at the charging boundary, and degradation of materials within the battery, which can cause battery damage and shorten battery life. Furthermore, cold-starting a battery with sharp bonding edge pulses limits the Faraday action as the capacitive charging and diffusion processes begin. During this time, proximal lithium reacts and is rapidly consumed, leaving undesirable side reactions and diffusion-limited states that negatively impact the health of the cell and its components. These and other inefficiencies are particularly disadvantageous when recharging the battery with relatively large currents, which are typically associated with so-called fast charging.

[0027] Since the characteristics of the battery 104 can change due to the charge state, temperature, and other factors, the shape of the charging signal 208 can also change over time. This signal can be partially defined with reference to Model 114 of the circuit components involved in signal generation and / or signal filtering. The system may also use feedback. Thus, the generator may, in some cases, perform an iterative process to monitor or determine the characteristics of the circuit and / or battery, and adjust the shape of the charging signal 208 applied to the model and / or battery accordingly. The iterative process can improve the accuracy of the signal shape used for recharging the battery and / or the efficiency of the charging signal, among other benefits, including a reduction in battery recharging time, an extension of battery life (e.g., the number of possible charge-discharge cycles of the battery), optimization of the amount of current used to charge the battery, and avoidance of energy loss due to various inefficiencies.

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a circuit 300 for charging a battery 304 by generating a controlled initial pulse train at node 336 using switching elements 312, 314, and then converting it into a shaped charge signal by a filter component 324 to generate a charge signal to be applied to the battery, according to one embodiment. The circuit 300 comprises the elements introduced above with reference to the generator in Figure 1, and includes a power supply 302, a circuit controller 306, a battery measurement circuit 308, and a battery 304. Other elements shown in the circuit 300 in Figure 3 may be included in the charge signal shaping circuit and / or filter in Figure 1. As will be described in more detail below, the circuit controller 306 may, in coordination with the circuit model, provide one or more control signals 330, 332 to the elements of the circuit 300 (e.g., switches 312 and 314) as part of the process of shaping a current or voltage signal to charge the battery 304. The circuit controller 306 may be implemented by an FPGA device, a microcontroller, a processor, an ASIC, or any other programmable processing device. In one embodiment, the circuit controller 306 may include a charge signal shaping generator 310 that controls a switch to generate a pulse train at node 336 that generates the shape of a charge signal to be applied to the battery 304.

[0029] As described above, the generator may use a model rather than an extended feedback environment that uses detailed feedback of various signals and battery characteristics. At a simple level, this model is a resistor representing an inductor and an inductor in series with the resistor of the filter circuit 324 and the battery 304. Thus, this model may be an inductance value in series with a resistance value. In the presence of a controlled pulse train at the input to the model, this model can predict the charging signal output to the battery. In other examples, this model may further include a power supply 302 and a capacitor 322, in addition to the switch elements 312 and 314. Thus, this model can model a control sequence to the switches that generate the input pulses to the filter 324, and the modeled charging waveform generated by the model can be analyzed. Since various aspects of this disclosure involve the generation of carefully controlled charging waveforms that are not conventional simple constant current, constant voltage, or square wave edge pulse charging signals, it is important to accurately reproduce the target or planned charging signal as an actual charging signal. Furthermore, in many charging environments, the use of models is beneficial because overly complex measurement and feedback systems are too expensive, energy-intensive, slow, and consume a lot of processor architecture resources, making them impractical and / or ineffective.

[0030] Nevertheless, particularly in the calibration sequence described later, the generator 300 may receive measurement results of the battery characteristics from the battery measurement circuit 308 and use them to verify the model, modify the model, and / or determine the shape of the charging signal. Furthermore, in some situations, the battery manufacturer may recommend or require monitoring of specific battery attributes, such as the open-circuit voltage during charging. However, as will be explained in more detail below, such feedback mechanisms may occur at a speed that does not allow for effective shaping of the charging signal, or they are implemented in a manner that requires low-cost and simple feedback elements so that the model can be used to determine the control signals 330, 332 for controlling the elements of the circuit 300, with or without the feedback mechanism.

[0031] As described, the circuit 300 may comprise one or more components that shape a charging signal for charging the battery 304. In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit 300 may comprise a first switching element (e.g., transistor 312) and a second switching element (e.g., transistor 314) connected to the output 334 of the power supply 302. The first transistor 312 may be configured to receive an input signal, such as a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signal 330, which causes the first transistor 312 to operate as a switching element or component. Generally, the first transistor 312 may be any type of transistor (e.g., an FET (or more specifically, a MOSFET), a GaN FET, a silicon carbide-based FET, or any type of controllable switching element that controllably connects the first inductor 316 to the output 334 of the power supply 302). For example, the first transistor 312 may be an FET whose drain node is connected to the first inductor 316, whose source is connected to the power supply 302, and whose gate receives the control signal 330 from the circuit controller. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the filter circuit 324 may have a variety of other possible inductive elements. For example, inductors 316 and / or inductors 318 can be replaced with transformers, and each or both sides of the transformer (e.g., the primary and secondary sides) can be considered as inductive elements. The circuit controller 306 may provide a control signal 330 to control the operation of the first transistor 312 as a switch that, when closed, connects the first inductor 316 to the power supply 302, allowing current from the power supply to flow through the first inductor 316. The second transistor 314 may receive a second input signal 332 and may also be connected to the drain of the first transistor 312 at node 336. Optionally, the second input signal 332 may be a PWM signal inverse to the first control signal 330 to the first transistor 312. In an alternative configuration, transistor 314 can be replaced with a diode, as will be described later with reference to Figure 5.Nevertheless, even when the first transistor 312 is closed and the first inductor 316 is connected to the power supply 302, the second transistor 314 remains open. Conversely, when the first transistor 312 is open, the second transistor 314 is closed and node 326 and the first inductor 316 are connected to ground. In this specification, a first control signal 330 and a second control signal 332 are described as counter signals to control the transistors to the opposite state, but other techniques for controlling the switching elements 312, 314 can also be implemented by circuit 300. The inductance value, capacitance value, operating time and frequency of the transistors, and other factors can be adjusted to generate a waveform, in particular a waveform with controlled harmonics relative to the battery for charging the battery. Referring to the exemplary charging signal shown in Figure 2, the signal at node 336 may be a pulse train around 0 volts to the rail voltage (e.g., the voltage at node 334 supplied by power supply 302). The pulses at node 336 may have a varying duty cycle and may be generated at a varying frequency. However, as a whole, these pulses are generated to produce a signal that is identical or nearly identical to the target charging signal. Therefore, for example, a signal like that shown in Figure 2 will be present at node 338 based on the combination of pulses present at node 336. Depending on the signal, pulses of 10 seconds to 1000 seconds (or longer) may be generated to form the desired charging signal.

[0032] Circuit 30 may include other components in addition to the first inductor 316. In particular, circuit 300 may include a first capacitor 322 connected between the output 334 of the power supply and ground. As will be discussed in more detail below, some of the energy required for the charging waveform may be supplied by the combination of the power supply and the capacitor 322. In the part of the circuit referred to as filter 324, a second capacitor 320 may be connected between the first inductor 316 (node ​​338) and ground. Also, a second inductor 318 may be connected between node 338 and the anode of the battery 304. The filter 324 of circuit 300 may generally operate to prevent abrupt changes in the charging signal applied to the battery 304. In addition to converting pulses at the input of the filter into a charging signal, the filter may also filter out any unintended high-frequency noise from the battery. For example, when the first transistor 312 is closed based on the control signal 330, the first inductor 316 and the second inductor 318 may prevent a sudden increase in the current supplied to the battery 304. Such a sudden increase in current may damage the battery 304 or negatively impact its lifespan. Furthermore, the inductor 316 or inductors 316 and 318, either alone or in combination with the capacitor 320, may shape the waveform applied to the battery, and the shaping of the waveform may be controllable by controlling the signal applied to the inductor. In another example, the capacitor 320 may store energy from the power supply 302 while the first transistor 312 is closed. When the first transistor 312 is opened in conjunction with closing transistor 314, capacitor 320 may resist a sharp drop in current to the battery by supplying a small amount of current to the battery 304 through the second inductor 318, and similarly may be used to avoid particularly sharp negative transitions by controlling the shaping of the waveform applied to the battery. The filter circuit also removes other unwanted signals, such as noise (which may include relatively high-frequency noise).Other advantages related to the charging of battery 304 are also realized by the filter circuit 324, but for the sake of simplification, they will not be discussed in this specification.

[0033] It should be understood that the components included in the charging circuit 300 may be more or fewer. For example, one or more components of the filter circuit 324 may be removed or modified as needed to filter the charging signal to the battery 304. Also, many other types of components and / or configurations of components may be included in or associated with the charging circuit 300. Rather, the circuit 300 in Figure 3 is merely an example of a battery charging circuit 300, and the techniques described herein for shaping the charging signal by generating or otherwise determining the control signals 330, 332 using the circuit model can be applied to any number of battery charging circuits. Also, various additional combinations of inductors or capacitors may be provided in series or in parallel with those shown.

[0034] As described above, the signal shaping generator 310 of the circuit controller 306 may control the shape of the charging signal based on the feedback measurement results of the battery 304 received from the model and / or battery measurement circuit 308. For example, the battery measurement circuit 308 may apply an initial charging signal to the battery 304 and obtain one or more measurement results of the battery 304 (such as the current flowing into the battery or the voltage across the battery terminals). These measurement results may be provided to the signal shaping generator 310 so that an error between the expected measurement result of the battery characteristics and the measured value at the battery 304 is determined. Based on this determination error, the signal shaping generator 310 may adjust the shape of the charging signal to the battery 304 by controlling the first transistor 312 and the second transistor 314 with control signals 330, 332. In other words, the signal shaping generator 310 may generate the expected measurement characteristics of the battery 304 by deforming the charging signal sent to the battery 304. As long as the feedback measurement results are expected, the shape of the charging signal can be maintained by the signal shaping generator 310 using control signals 330, 332. However, if a difference is detected between the expected measurement result and the measured value, the circuit controller 306 may change the shape of the charging signal to bring the battery 304's response within the expected range. Such a process may not be performed, may be performed at the start of charging or at various points during charging, may be performed periodically or intermittently, or may be performed in response to any change or any metric (e.g., changes in terminal voltage, charge state, temperature).

[0035] In some cases, the feedback techniques used by the signal shaping generator 310 to modify or shape the charging signal to the battery 304 may have too much delay to effectively shape fast-acting charging signals. For example, charging signals may contain pulses that occur at specific frequencies, which are often faster than the battery measurement circuit 308 can acquire battery characteristic measurement results and / or the circuit controller 306 can adjust the shape of the charging signal in response to the measured battery characteristics. As a result, the circuit controller 306, which uses feedback measurement results to adjust the shape of the charging signal, is often unable to fine-tune the charging signal to optimize battery charging, especially in the case of high-frequency charging signals.

[0036] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit 400 for charging a battery 404 using circuit model 440 according to one embodiment. The circuit 400 in Figure 4 is an alternative version of the charging circuit 300 described above with reference to Figure 3, and may comprise similar components such as a power supply 402, a first transistor 412 or other type of electronic switch, a diode replacing the second transistor 414 or other type of electronic switch, a battery 404, and a circuit controller 406. Although not shown, a battery measurement configuration may also be included. Similarly, the first transistor 412 may be operated as a switch and controlled by a control or input signal 430 that alternately connects the inductor 416 to the output of the power supply 402. The filter can be considered as the inductor 416 and may not include the capacitor 320 or the second inductor 318 in Figure 3. In general, the first transistor 412 may be any type of FET transistor or any type of controllable switching device. The circuit controller 406 may also control the operation of the first transistor 412, which acts as a switch that, when closed, connects the inductor 416 to the power supply 402, allowing a charging signal from the power supply to flow to the inductor 416, by providing a control signal 430.

[0037] As described above, the circuit 400 in Figure 4 is an alternative version of the circuit 300 in Figure 3. Many of the components of the filter section of the charging circuit are absent. Such components may or may not be included in the charging circuit 400.

[0038] In various applications, cost and complexity can be problematic, and these should be minimized or avoided whenever possible. Similarly, simplification can lead to increased reliability. For this reason, in the circuit 400 of Figure 4, a model 440 of several attributes of the circuit 400 may be used to determine how to generate a charging signal at the output of the inductor 416 based on some target charging signal. The use of the model avoids the need to monitor values ​​in discrete components and can also avoid more complex feedback measurements and controls. In some cases, the circuit model 440 may determine how to generate a specific target-shaped charging waveform in the battery 404 by modeling external components of the circuit controller 406, such as the power supply 402, the first transistor 412, the second transistor 414, the inductor 416, and the battery itself. Referring to Figure 3, the model may also include a second inductor 418 and a capacitor 42. In one embodiment, the circuit model 440 may include a model of the inductor 416 that includes an inductance value in series with a resistor. At a high level, the controller determines a target waveform that can be generated from a lookup table based on the battery characteristics or a combination thereof, and also refers to an inductor model to determine a combination of pulses that will generate the target shaped charging waveform at node 436 when applied to the input side of the inductor (node ​​436). Subsequently, the desired pulse train is generated by controlling switch 412, and the target charging waveform is formed at the battery input. The model may also include resistance values ​​that take into account the resistance of the battery itself, as well as resistances such as wiring resistance. The modeled inductance may also include a value that represents the inductance of the battery. The model may model each inductance value separately, or it may combine them as a single modeled inductance value.

[0039] The components included in the model may have variable attributes for determining the influence of the component on the applied charging signal, and the model may be adjusted by adjusting one or more variable attributes of the modeled components. For example, the model of an inductor may include an inductance value and a series resistance value. The battery itself may be modeled as an inductor and a resistor and arranged in series. Other modeled components (switches 412, 414 and / or battery 404) may include various attributes to improve the accuracy of the simulation performed on the modeled components. Furthermore, the attributes of the modeled components may be adjusted over time based on performance data, characterization sequences, or other feedback data from circuit components or other feedback data based on calculation or characterization methods. For example, the charging signal of the circuit in Figure 4 may be sampled at various timings and fed back to the circuit controller 406, and the controller may compare the received charging signal with the expected charging signal. Based on the difference, the circuit controller 406 may improve the accuracy of the model by changing or adjusting one or more attributes of the components of the model. The adjustment of model components may be repeated over a period of time to account for parasitic effects on the components.

[0040] In another example where a battery measurement circuit may be used, the voltage at the battery terminals when the charging signal or characterization signal is applied to the battery may be sampled at one or more timings (e.g., two timings) and compared with the expected voltage at those timings. This characterization sequence will be discussed in more detail below. In one example, a simple comparator may be used to determine whether the measured voltage (at each timing) is higher or lower than the expected voltage (at each timing). Depending on whether each voltage is higher or lower than the expected voltage (one value may be higher and the other lower), the system may modify the charging signal by adjusting one or more attributes of the model. Rather than determining the difference in values, it is more simply determined whether it is larger or smaller than the evaluation. The charging signal or characterization signal is then regenerated by the adjusted model, and the greater-than / less-than comparison with the evaluation is repeated until the expected value at the sampling timing matches the target value. In this way, the adjustment of the model shifts the sampled value of the charging signal toward the expected value of the target signal. It is recognized that the match may include some error or threshold, so that a perfect match is not required. Nevertheless, if the sampling measurement results of the signal in the battery (e.g., voltage) meet the expected value, one or more inductor model values ​​are used to generate the charging signal. Repeated such characterization at various timings in the charging signal may be used to accommodate changes that may occur in circuit components due to factors such as heat, as well as changes that may occur in the battery due to factors such as charge state and temperature.

[0041] Regardless of the components included in circuit model 440, the controller determines the control signal to be given to the switch by referring to the model in order to determine the signal that generates the target charge waveform at node 436 (or 336). For example, suppose the signal shaping generator 410 determines the shape of the charge signal to any charge signal 208 in signal graph 202 of Figure 2. Circuit model 440 may be configured to obtain the expected charge signal at the output of inductor 416 by generating or applying a shaped charge signal to the modeled circuit. More specifically, the model may be configured to apply a pulse train intended to generate the expected charge signal from the model. Thus, circuit model 440 may be configured to control the first transistor 412 and the second transistor 414 over a time period of the shaped charge signal 308 based on the output of circuit model 440 to determine the expected charge signal passing through inductor 416 (or the expected charge signal received at battery 404).

[0042] The expected error between the target charging signal and the expected charging signal can be determined by comparing the target charging signal with the expected charging signal output by the circuit model 440. Optionally, the signal shaping generator 410 may compensate for the expected error determined by the circuit model 440 by adjusting the pulse train of the target charging signal. Based on the input charging sequence and the modeled components of the charging circuit (e.g., the inductor 416), the circuit controller 406 determines the difference between the target shape of the charging signal and the expected shape of the charging signal by modeling the circuit performance, particularly the shape of the charging signal expected in the battery 404. Instead of removing the battery characteristic feedback mechanism from the charging circuit by modeling the circuit and determining the difference between the target charging signal and the expected charging signal, the adjustment of the components of the charging circuit 400 may be based on the modeled circuit performance. Furthermore, in low-speed feedback loops, modeling and feedback measurement results may be used in combination.

[0043] In one embodiment, the signal shaping generator 410 may output control signals 430, 432 for controlling the first transistor 412 and the second transistor 414, respectively, based on an error determined in the estimated charging signal received from the circuit model 440. In another embodiment, the charging circuit control mechanism of the circuit controller 406 may receive one or more inputs from the signal shaping generator 410 and generate control signals 430, 432 for the first transistor 412 and the second transistor 414 to shape the charging signal according to the determination error. For example, the estimated error received from the circuit model 440 may indicate that some aspect of the charging signal at a particular timing in the future will differ from the target charging signal. When this occurs at a particular timing, the circuit controller 406 may compensate for the estimated error in the charging signal passing through the inductor 416 at that particular timing by providing control signals 430, 42 to the transistors 412, 414 to shape the charging signal based on the determination difference. Thus, the circuit controller 406 may adjust the shape of the charging signal to the battery 404 based on an estimated charging signal from a model of the charging circuit, rather than on measurement feedback from the battery 404. Therefore, according to the circuit model 440, the circuit controller 406 may be able to adjust the shape of the charging signal at a rate that exceeds the frequency at which measurement results from the battery 404 can be acquired and processed. Furthermore, the system may be configured to calibrate the model, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0044] A flowchart in Figure 5 illustrates a method 500 for generating a charging signal using a model that may also include estimating the error of the target charging signal to the expected charging signal, by using circuit model 440. The operation of method 500 in Figure 5 may be modules, programs, algorithms, components, etc., of the circuit controller 406, the model, a combination thereof, or more generally, the generator 100 of the various embodiments described above that generate a charging signal of any shape for charging the battery 404. In one example, the circuit controller 406 may perform one or more of the operations to control the first transistor 412 and / or the second transistor 414 to shape the charging signal with the current supplied by the power supply 402 and apply the charging signal to charge the battery 404. However, in other examples, the circuit controller 406 may perform method 500 or the operations of the method to control any charging circuit components to shape or otherwise modify the charging signal to the battery 404. These operations may be performed by one or more hardware components of the circuit controller 406, one or more programs of the controller, or a combination of both hardware and software components of the circuit controller.

[0045] Starting from operation 502, the circuit controller 406 may determine a target shape of the charge signal for charging the battery 404. Determining the target shape may involve accessing the target shape in memory. As described above, the target shape of the charge signal may be based on the characteristics of the battery 404 being charged, such as the measured impedance, charge state, battery temperature, and a modeled ideal battery. The shape of the charge signal can be arbitrary, although controlled, and may include one or more specific harmonic attributes. The charge signal may, after a period of time, temporarily drop to zero or a slightly negative level before returning to a positive value. In various examples, the target shape of the charge signal may be generated by the signal shaping generator 410 of the circuit controller 406 based on a charge signal algorithm or any other executable instruction that determines the target shape of the charge signal for optimal charging of the battery 404.

[0046] In operation 504, the target charge signal may be applied to or otherwise provided to a model 440 of the charging circuit 400. The circuit model 440 may include models of any number of components of the charging circuit 400 or any other charging circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit model 440 may include the inductor 416 of the charging circuit 400. In another embodiment, the circuit model 440 may include components of the filter circuit 324 of the charging circuit 300 in Figure 3. Regardless of the modeled components, the circuit model 440 may receive the target charge signal and generate or otherwise use the model to generate an expected charge signal to be applied to the battery by simulating transistor control and the resulting signal applied to the modeled inductor. For this reason, in operation 506, the circuit controller 406 may receive the expected charge signal in the battery 404 of the modeled circuit. For example, the circuit model 440 may include the inductor 416 component of the charging circuit. Furthermore, the target charging signal is input to a modeled inductor (by modeled control of switches 412, 414 for generating the target charging signal, etc.), and based on a simulation of the target charging signal as it is transmitted through the modeled inductor, the circuit model 440 may output a predicted charging signal at the output of the modeled inductor. As described above, the model is described as including a modeled inductor, but it may also include resistance values ​​(which may be in series with the modeled inductor) in addition to inductance values, and can represent various resistance characteristics such as filters. Since inductor 416 is directly connected to battery 404, the predicted charging signal is considered to be a charging signal that is applied to battery 404 to charge the battery. In the case of a circuit model that includes other or different components, the effect of each component on the charging signal can be modeled, and the output of the charging signal that reaches battery 404 can be determined. Regardless of the number and configuration of components modeled in circuit model 440, the output of the model shows the effect that the components may have on the input charging signal so that the estimated charging signal at battery 404 can be determined.

[0047] The circuit controller 406 may also determine the difference between the target charge signal given as input to the circuit model 440 and the expected charge signal output by the model. If the expected charge signal obtained by the simulation of the battery 404 on the circuit model 440 differs from the target charge signal generated by the signal shaping generator 410, the circuit controller 406 may, in operation 510, adjust the shape of the target charge signal based on the determined difference, or adjust the model components that provide the target. In other words, the circuit controller 406 may generate one or more control signals to the first switching element 412 and / or the second switching element 414 to account for the influence that circuit components may have on the charge signal so that the charge signal applied to the battery 404 has the shape determined by the signal shaping generator 410. For example, once the shape of the target charge signal is determined, the circuit controller 406 may generate a control signal 430 for the first transistor 412 and / or a control signal 432 for the second transistor 414. In one example, control signal 430 may be the opposite of control signal 432, such that the switching of the transistors occurs in the opposite state (for example, opening the first transistor and closing the second transistor at the same time, and vice versa). However, generally, control signals for any number of components of the charging circuit are generated and sent to the components of the charging circuit to generate a shaped charging signal for charging the battery. Regardless of the control mode of the charging circuit, the control signals may be based on a circuit model 440 and a simulation of the target charging signal on the circuit model to estimate the error between the target charging signal and the expected charging signal in the battery. The circuit model 440 can be used as an alternative to or addition to feedback of one or more characteristics of the battery 404 to improve the efficiency and speed of shaping the charging signal.

[0048] The systems, circuits, and methods described above, as replacements for feedback of battery 404 measurements, may utilize some kind of feedback mechanism to assist the signal shaping generator 410 in determining the shape of the target charging signal. For example, the charging circuit 400 in Figure 4 may include a battery measurement circuit as shown in Figure 3 to provide the measured current and / or voltage of the battery to the control element. However, the feedback may not be used to generate the pulses of the charging signal, but rather used by the signal shaping generator 310 to calculate the impedance or other arbitrary characteristics of the battery 404. The measurement results may also be used to calibrate the model. The generator may use such calculation results to determine the target shape of the charging signal, although the measurement results may be acquired at a slower pace than, for example, the frequency of the charging signal. For this reason, the shape of the charging signal may be changed at high speed while the battery measurement and calculation results are still acquired and used by various control units and models.

[0049] The circuits and methods described herein may generate a prediction of a charging signal in a battery, and a transistor may be controlled accordingly. As described above, the transistor is typically controlled by a rapidly changing PWM signal. Figure 4 is a broad reference to the method in Figure 5, but this technique may be used in conjunction with other options, including those shown in Figure 3. In the circuit model, the control of one or more transistors may not be synchronized to an external clock, but instead may appear as random digital signals at the gates of the transistors. These signals appear randomly, but are controlled to generate a desired charging signal. The use of the circuit model offers several advantages, including, but are not limited to, simplified design, difficulty in reverse engineering due to the control signals appearing as random digital signals, and improved accuracy in shaping the charging signal. In particular, the switching of transistors can be controlled in units of less than 10 nanoseconds, which is much faster than circuits that use feedback measurements to shape the charging signal. This allows for very fine control of the output current. Furthermore, circuit model 440 can reduce switching losses and improve the overall stability of the transistor by tracking the minimum on / off time of the transistor and incorporating that tracking into the transistor's control.

[0050] Figure 6 shows another exemplary method of charging a battery using a circuit model that generates a controlled charging waveform of some arbitrary shape, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. Unlike any number of alternative charging techniques, including pulse charging which uses conventional square wave edge-shaped pulses of constant current or constant voltage with variable width and / or frequency, the present technique generates a charging signal of some target shape, which is not a conventional square wave or constant current / constant voltage signal. Thus, additional circuit characteristics, such as those shown in Figures 3 and 4, are provided to generate the shape. At a high level, referring to the example in Figure 3, switches 312 and 314 are coordinately controlled to generate a pulse train, and when 312 is on and 314 is off, there is a pulse at 336 with a voltage of approximately the voltage present at node 334 minus the voltage drop across transistor 312. The pulse train at 336 is controlled to generate a target charging waveform, and the pulse train at inductor 316 is converted to start at node 338.

[0051] Figure 7 shows another example of a portion of the charging waveform. In the illustrated portion of the example, the charging waveform 700 at node 338 is superimposed with the charging waveform 710 at the battery input after being processed separately by the second inductor 318. Here, it can be seen that the charging waveform 700 at node 338 is a sinusoidal AC signal that alternates between nominal non-zero voltages 720 rising from left to right. Therefore, the control pulse at node 336 is an AC pattern with a rising nominal non-zero voltage. The pulse width and frequency can be controlled to generate the pattern at node 338 after processing by the first inductor. Subsequently, the AC charging signal at node 338 is processed separately by the second inductor 318 to generate the charging waveform 710 applied to the battery. The AC pattern continues to exist, but is substantially attenuated by the second inductor so that its amplitude is significantly smaller than that at node 338, resulting in the intended charging current. The nominal value of the AC pattern at node 338 after the first inductor is effectively the charging signal remaining after the second inductor.

[0052] Controller 306 generates the desired charging waveform by generating a control signal for the switch using the circuit model. In the charging sequence, the system may first calibrate the model. In one example, the model includes an inductor in series with a resistor. At a simple level, the model may include an inductor representing inductor 416. In another option, the model may include one (or both) of inductors 316 and 318. Furthermore, the model may include the inductance value of the battery being charged. Similarly, the model may include resistance values ​​that take into account various attributes of the circuit 324 (or the filter circuit (if used)) (e.g., including battery resistance and wiring resistance). In a model with inductance values ​​representing the inductance and resistance of the filter circuit, the inductance and resistance values ​​may be adjustable or configurable.

[0053] Calibration involves generating a test signal (which may be a charging signal or a dedicated test signal) and determining whether the charging signal at the battery input matches the target signal. If the signals match, the model is considered accurate and the model parameters are not adjusted. To determine the match, in one example, a calibration test signal is applied to the battery. An example of such a test signal is shown in Figure 8. The calibration signal has a first target current (IT1) and a second target current (IT2). In one example, as shown, the first and second target currents are intended to be identical, and the test signal has a flat top and a roughly trapezoidal shape, as shown, with the leading edge gradually rising and the trailing edge gradually falling. As described in other sections, the target and measurement results may be a target voltage and a voltage measurement result. After the rising edge, the measurement result at time T1 is taken some time after the transition to the flat top so that the current level of the test signal stabilizes. Similarly, the second measurement result is taken before the falling edge of the test signal so that the second current is measured before the signal begins to return to zero. In this system, the actual current at time T1 and time T2 is evaluated by the battery measurement circuit 408, etc., and the actual current measurement results for each time are compared with the first and second predicted target currents for each time.

[0054] The purpose of calibration is to ensure that the actual measurement results at T1 and T2, whether voltage or current, match the target, indicating that the model matches the actual circuit performance. Calibration techniques allow for adjustment of the model's inductance and / or resistance values. While the actual measurement results of current at times T1 and T2 can be compared to the target current, in one example, a different technique with simpler calculations is employed. Specifically, this system has a comparator that determines whether the current (or voltage) at time T1 is greater or less than the target current (or voltage) at time T1, and does the same for time T2, for the target current (or voltage) at time T2. If one value matches and the other does not, this system adjusts the inductance value. Similarly, if one value is greater than the target current and the other signal is less than the target current, this system also adjusts the inductance value. In either case, the difference indicates a test signal with a sloped peak, as opposed to the target flat peak, and the sloped peak indicates a mismatch in the model's inductance. Conversely, if both measured values ​​are greater than or less than their respective target values, this indicates a mismatch in the model's resistance. In voltage-based testing and measurement examples, the resistance is reduced if the measured voltage is below the target, and increased if the measured voltage is above the target. Naturally, both inductance and resistance may require calibration. In one example, this system iteratively adjusts the model by repeatedly applying a test signal, adjusting the inductance and / or resistance, and measuring the current (or voltage) at both times T1 and T2 until the measured values ​​at both times match the target. The model is considered calibrated when the measured voltage is within a certain percentage or threshold relative to the target (e.g., 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, or some other tolerance, depending on the accuracy specified or required for any particular embodiment or application).

[0055] After the model has been calibrated, the system may be configured to initiate charging. Alternatively, the system may be further calibrated so that the pulse train at the filter input generates the target waveform. In some examples, the model includes one or more switches that generate a target charging waveform by generating a pulse train at the filter input. The model is programmed to generate a target voltage and / or target current suitable for the target waveform at any given point in time. The pulses at 336 generate the target waveform after processing by the filter. In one example of target waveform generation, such as in Figure 2, the target waveform has a clearly defined start and end time, and the signal transitions from zero voltage (and / or zero current, depending on the measurement and / or control method) to a non-zero value of the target charging waveform. The same thing happens at the end time, where the voltage and / or current transition from a non-zero value of the charging waveform to zero. It is also possible to momentarily reduce the charging current to below zero between charging signals. In various conceivable examples, discrete charging waveforms are repeated several times, which is sufficient and accountable for significant changes in the charging rate, until the system determines that some change in the charging control is necessary, which could be a change in the charging signal and / or recalibration of the model. Nevertheless, the model may be further calibrated by generating a target pulse train to the calibrated filter elements of the model, so that the desired target signal is generated by the model. This calibration part can be performed precisely by feeding the target signal into the model without measuring the actual circuit performance or the actual charging signal. Switch control may be adjusted in any number of ways to adjust the pulsation of the filter circuit for generating the target waveform. For example, the on time of switch 312 relative to switch 314 may be adjusted to generate pulses of different widths, and the pulsation frequency at 336 may also be adjusted. The pulse width and frequency required to generate the desired diverse shapes of charging signals, as well as the shape values ​​at a particular point in time, can vary over a nearly infinite number of pulse combinations.Nevertheless, this system may also generate a charging waveform by repeatedly applying switch control until the modeled filter circuit generates a desired target charging waveform in the battery, and then initiating charging by the calibrated control and model.

[0056] Calibration does not occur in every charging cycle, and conversely, it is recognized that a form of calibration may occur within a charging cycle. For example, the inductance and / or resistance of a modeled filter circuit may change during a cycle or over many charging cycles due to various electrochemical and electrodynamic effects of the battery over time and cycles, heat, charging current values, and other reasons. Similarly, circuit elements may change due to heat and cycling, among many other reasons. It is also recognized that different elements of the filter circuit may have different effects on the accuracy of the performance of the modeled circuit. For example, a capacitor 320 may be present in the filter, but its value may not be included in the model because it may not have a significant impact on the modeled performance. Similarly, other components outside the filter circuit, such as a power supply, may be modeled. Similarly, a capacitor 322 may be modeled.

[0057] In one example, as described above, the target waveform may be a repetitive molding charge signal, and the charge signal may be zero between repetitive molding charge signals. In a zero state, any minute errors in the manufacturing of the filter circuit of the target shape can not be propagated to the subsequent shape. A capacitor 322 is also included so that the system has sufficient charging energy to generate the target shape. If, in some cases, the power supply alone is insufficient to generate the charging current and voltage at a particular point in the target charging waveform, the capacitor stores energy to meet that demand. Between target charging signals, the capacitor is rechargeable so that it has energy available for the next sequence. Also, given this role in the overall delivery of the charging signal, the capacitor 322 may be modeled and considered during calibration, such as control signal calibration.

[0058] Nevertheless, once the model has been calibrated and / or the filter circuit's switch control and micropulsation have been calibrated, the system will begin charging.

[0059] Furthermore, the charging circuits and methods described herein may be applied to batteries comprising one or more cells. In a multi-cell configuration, the cells may be arranged in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel. Multiple battery cells arranged in series can reduce the total current used to charge the battery cells because the current is divided among the series-connected battery cells. By connecting battery cells in series, the current required for the charging circuit can be reduced, further improving the efficiency of the charging circuit.

[0060] Referring to Figure 9, an exemplary computer system 900 having one or more arithmetic units capable of implementing the various systems and methods discussed herein is described in detail. The computer system 900 may be part of a controller, operably communicate with the various embodiments discussed herein, perform various operations related to the methods discussed herein, process various data for characterizing a battery offline, or be part of the overall system discussed herein. The computer system 900 may process and / or provide various signals discussed herein. For example, such a computer system 900 may be provided with battery measurement information. The computer system 900 may also be applicable to, for example, the controllers, models, and adjustment / shaping circuits discussed with respect to the various figures, and may be used to implement the various methods described herein. Specific embodiments of these devices may be of various concrete computer architectures, not all of which are specifically discussed herein, but this will be understood by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it should be understood that a computer system can be thought of as an ASIC, FPGA, microcontroller, or other computer configuration, and / or may include these. Such various possible embodiments may include fewer or more components than those discussed below, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, and may be interconnected and otherwise modified.

[0061] The computer system 900 may be a computer system capable of executing computer processes by executing computer program products. When data and program files are input to the computer system 900, it reads the files and executes the programs contained therein. Some elements of the computer system 900 are shown in Figure 9, which include one or more hardware processors 902, one or more data storage devices 904, one or more memory devices 906, and / or one or more ports 908-912. The computer system 900 may also include other elements that will be recognized by those skilled in the art, but which are not explicitly shown in Figure 9 and are not discussed separately herein. Various elements of the computer system 900 can communicate with each other by one or more communication buses, point-to-point communication paths, or other means of communication, which are not explicitly shown in Figure 9. Similarly, in various embodiments, various elements disclosed in this system may or may not be included in any given embodiment.

[0062] The processor 902 may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), and / or one or more internal cache levels. The presence of one or more processors 902 may enable the processor 902 to have a central processing unit, or multiple processing units, generally referred to as a parallel processing environment, that can perform instruction execution and operation execution in parallel with each other.

[0063] In various possible combinations, the techniques described herein may be implemented in part in software stored in data storage device 904, software stored in memory device 906, and / or software transmitted via one or more of ports 908-912, so that the computer system 900 in Figure 9 becomes a dedicated machine for performing the operations described herein.

[0064] One or more data storage devices 904 may include non-volatile data storage devices capable of storing data generated or adopted within the computer system 900, such as computer executable instructions for executing computer processes (which may include instructions for both application programs and operating systems (OS) that manage various components of the computer system 900). Examples of data storage devices 904 include, but are not limited to, magnetic disk drives, optical disk drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and flash drives. Data storage devices 904 may include removable data storage media, non-removable data storage media, and / or external storage devices that become available via a wired or wireless network architecture with computer program products such as database management products, web server products, application server products, and / or other additional software components. Examples of removable data storage media include compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk read-only memory (DVD-ROM), magneto-optical disks, and flash drives. Examples of non-removable data storage media include internal magnetic hard disks and SSDs. One or more memory devices 906 may include volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), etc.) and / or non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.).

[0065] Computer program products including mechanisms for implementing systems and methods relating to the technologies described herein may reside in data storage devices 904 and / or memory devices 906, which may be referred to as machine-readable media. It should be understood that machine-readable media may include any non-transient tangible media capable of storing or encoding instructions that perform any one or more operations of the disclosed herein performed by a machine, or data structures and / or modules that are used by or associated with such instructions. Machine-readable media may include one or more media (e.g., centralized or distributed databases, and / or associated caches and servers) that store one or more executable instructions or data structures.

[0066] In some embodiments, the computer system 900 includes one or more ports, such as an input / output (I / O) port 908, a communication port 910, and a subsystem port 912, for communicating with other computer equipment, network equipment, or vehicle equipment. Ports 908-912 may be coupled or separated, and the computer system 900 may have more or fewer ports. It should be understood that the I / O port 908 may be connected to a device such as an I / O device that inputs information to or outputs information from the computer system 900. Such I / O devices may include, but are not limited to, one or more input devices, output devices, and / or environmental transducer devices.

[0067] In one embodiment, the input device converts human-generated signals such as human voice, body movements, physical contact or pressure, and / or similar signals into electrical signals as input data to the computer system 900 via the I / O port 908. In some examples, such inputs may differ from the various systems and methods discussed with respect to the prior art. Similarly, the output device may convert the electrical signals received from the computer system 900 via the I / O port 908 into signals that can be detected or used by the various methods and systems discussed herein. The input device may be an alphanumeric input device including alphanumeric keys for transmitting information and / or command selections to the processor 902 via the I / O port 908.

[0068] The environmental transducer device converts one form of energy or signal into another for input to or output from the computer system 900 via the I / O port 908. For example, an electrical signal generated within the computer system 900 may be converted into another type of signal, and / or vice versa. In one embodiment, the environmental transducer device detects characteristics or aspects of the environment local to or remote to the computer equipment 900, such as battery voltage, open-circuit battery voltage, charging current, battery temperature, light, sound, temperature, pressure, magnetic field, electric field, chemical properties, etc.

[0069] In one embodiment, the communication port 910 may be connected to a network from which the computer system 900 can receive network data useful for transmitting information and changes in the network configuration that it determines, in addition to the execution of the methods and systems described herein. For example, this may include updating charging protocols, sharing battery measurements or calculation data with an external system. The communication port 910 connects the computer system 900 to one or more communication interface devices configured to transmit and / or receive information between the computer system 900 and other devices via one or more wired or wireless communication networks or connections. Examples of such networks or connections include, but are not limited to, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, Near Field Communication (NFC), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and others. One or more such communication interface devices may be used to communicate with one or more other machines via the communication port 910, either directly or via a point-to-point communication path, via a wide area network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet), via a local area network (LAN), via a cellular network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G), or via another means of communication.

[0070] The computer system 900 may include subsystem ports 912 for controlling the operation of a device and / or exchanging information between the computer system 900 and one or more subsystems of a device, by communication with one or more systems associated with the device, which is charged according to the method and system described herein. Examples of such subsystems relating to a vehicle include, but are not limited to, motor controllers and systems, battery control systems, and the like.

[0071] The system shown in Figure 9 is merely one possible example of a computer system that can adopt or be configured in accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that other non-transient, tangible, computer-readable storage media containing computer-executable instructions for implementing the disclosed technology on a computer system may be used.

[0072] Embodiments of this disclosure include various steps described herein. These steps may be executed by hardware components or embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to execute such steps by a general-purpose or dedicated processor programmed with such instructions. Alternatively, these steps may be executed by a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0073] Various improvements and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments described without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above (also referred to as embodiments or examples) represent certain features, the scope of the present invention also includes embodiments that include different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all such alternatives, improvements, and variations, along with their respective equivalents.

[0074] While specific embodiments have been discussed, it should be understood that these are for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For this reason, the following descriptions and drawings are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting in any way. Many specific details are provided to ensure a full understanding of this disclosure. However, in certain examples, well-known or prior art details are omitted to avoid obscuring the explanation. References to “one embodiment” in this disclosure may refer to “the same embodiment” or “any embodiment,” and such references mean at least one of the embodiments.

[0075] References to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in relation to that embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. Expressions such as “in one embodiment” or similarly “in one example” or “in one instance” appearing in various parts of this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, nor do they all refer to separate or alternative embodiments that are mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Furthermore, various features are described, some of which are shown in some embodiments but not in others.

[0076] The terms used herein generally have the common meaning in the art in the context of this disclosure and in the specific context in which each term is used. Furthermore, alternative expressions and synonyms may be used for any one or more terms discussed herein, and the presence or absence of detailed explanations of terms herein should not be given particular importance. In some cases, synonyms are provided for specific terms. The inclusion of one or more synonyms does not preclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of terms discussed herein, is illustrative only and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of this disclosure or any exemplary terms. Similarly, this disclosure is not limited to the various embodiments described herein.

[0077] Without any intention to limit the scope of this disclosure, examples of apparatus, apparatus, methods, and associated results according to embodiments of this disclosure are given below. For the convenience of the reader, examples may have titles or subtitles, but this does not limit the scope of this disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the meanings that would ordinarily be understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates. In the event of any conflict, this specification, including definitions, shall prevail.

[0078] Additional features and advantages of this disclosure are described below, some of which will be evident from the description or can be grasped through the practice of the principles disclosed herein. The features and advantages of this disclosure can be realized and obtained by the apparatus and combinations specifically indicated in the appended claims. The above and other features of this disclosure will be more clearly evident from the description below and the appended claims, or can be grasped through the practice of the principles described herein.

Claims

1. It is a system for charging batteries, The first switch, A first inductive element operably connected to the aforementioned switch, A second inductive element operably communicated with the first inductive element, A processor configured to communicate with the switch and a model, and to generate a shaped charging waveform in response to the execution of the model in order to generate a shaped charging waveform by generating a pulse train with the first inductive element through control of the switch by the execution of an instruction, Equipped with, The aforementioned model includes a model of a first inductor, a second inductor, and a battery. system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first switch is operably coupled to a power supply, and the processor is further configured to execute the pulse train according to the model and to adjust the pulse train to generate the shaped waveform.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the model includes a configurable inductance value and a configurable resistance value, and the processor is further configured to calibrate the model by applying a known signal to the first inductor by executing an instruction and obtaining a first measurement result at a first point of the known signal and a second measurement result at a second point of the known signal, and changing at least one of the configurable inductance value or the configurable resistance value if at least one of the first measurement result at the first point or the second measurement result at the second point does not match a first target measurement result at the first point or a second target measurement result at the second point, respectively.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first measurement result is a first current or a first voltage, the second measurement result is a second current or a second voltage, the first target measurement result is a first target current or a first target voltage, and the second target measurement result is a second target current or a second target voltage.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a microcontroller.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second switch communicating with the first switch at a common node operably coupled to the first inductive element.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first switch is a first transistor and the second switch is a second transistor.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first switch is a transistor and the second switch is a diode.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first inductive element is a first inductor.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the second inductive element comprises a second inductor coupled to the first inductor, the system further comprising a battery operably coupled to the second inductor and receiving the shaped charge waveform, and a capacitor coupled between the first inductor, the second inductor and a neutral.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first inductive element is part of a transformer.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply and a capacitor operably coupled to the first switch and configured to deliver energy to generate the shaped charge waveform.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the model includes inductance values ​​representing the first inductive element, the second inductive element in series with the first inductive element, and the battery.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the model further includes a resistance value.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the inductance value is in series with the resistance value.

16. A method for charging a battery, comprising generating a shaped charging waveform in response to a processor communicating with a switch and a filter model by executing the model to generate a shaped charging waveform by generating a pulse train in the filter by controlling the switch, wherein the filter further comprises a first inductor coupled to the switch, a second inductor coupled to the first inductor, and a capacitor coupled between the first inductor, the second inductor and a neutral.

17. By generating a pulse train with the first inductive element, a known signal is generated from the filter, If the measurement attributes of the known signal do not match the target measurement result, the model is calibrated by adjusting at least one attribute of the model. A method for charging a battery according to claim 16, further comprising:

18. The at least one attribute of the model includes a configurable inductance value and a configurable resistance value, Calibrating the aforementioned model Applying the known signal to the filter, The first measurement result at a first point of the known signal and the second measurement result at a second point of the known signal are obtained, and if at least one of the first measurement result at the first point or the second measurement result at the second point does not match the first target measurement result at the first point or the second target measurement result at the second point, at least one of the configurable inductance value or the configurable resistance value is changed. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the model further includes the switch.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the model further includes a capacitor operably coupled to a power supply and operably coupled to the switch.

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