Accumulated Power Consumption Sensor for Smart Battery Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rechargeable batteries in portable electronic devices have a limited number of charge cycles before they can no longer hold a useful charge, making it difficult to determine when they need to be replaced, potentially leading to device failure.

Innovation Solution

A smart battery system that includes a rechargeable battery cell and a battery life sensor, which measures the total accumulated power discharged over the battery's lifetime using an adjustable resistor and an analog-to-digital converter to estimate the remaining life cycle and provide an indication when the battery needs replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a battery life sensor is added to monitor accumulated power consumption, then the ability to determine remaining battery life is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery life measurementVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cell itself serves as the sensor by utilizing its inherent internal resistance characteristics. The battery's own voltage drop under load provides the measurement signal, eliminating the need for external sensing components and keeping the system simple while achieving accurate battery life monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex electronic sensing circuits with a purely electrical measurement approach. By measuring voltage and current directly and calculating power consumption through mathematical operations, the system avoids mechanical or complex electronic sensor components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of power consumption is performed, then the accuracy of remaining life estimation is improved, but the power consumption by the monitoring system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption measurementVSAvoidsensor power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system performs measurements at periodic intervals during battery discharge cycles. The microcontroller measures voltage and current at specific points in time and calculates accumulated power consumption, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining sufficient measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system leverages the existing discharge current that flows during normal battery operation. By measuring during these natural discharge events rather than using separate sensing circuits, the system achieves continuous monitoring capability without requiring additional power-consuming sensing hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If the battery monitoring system provides detailed accumulated discharge data, then the information about battery health is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery health informationVSAvoidaccumulated power measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously measures voltage and current, calculates instantaneous power consumption, and accumulates this data over time. The microcontroller processes these measurements and provides feedback about remaining battery life and health status, transforming complex measurement data into simple, actionable information for the user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the complex parameter of accumulated power consumption into a simpler equivalent parameter of remaining battery life cycles. By establishing the relationship between total energy discharged and battery capacity degradation, the system converts difficult-to-measure cumulative data into straightforward life cycle estimates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively monitors the battery's life cycle, allowing for timely replacement and minimizing the risk of device failure by providing accurate estimates of remaining battery life with minimal power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

the battery life sensor includes an adjustable resistor whose resistance permanently changes as current passes therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9651627B2Accumulated power consumption sensor: application in smart batteries systems

Publication Date: 2017.05.16 STMICROELECTRONICS INT NV

AI summary

A device is provided for monitoring the total current discharged from a battery. The device includes a bridge circuit of resistors in which one of the resistors has a resistance which varies according to the current which has passed through it. Whenever the battery passes a current to a load, a small portion of the current is passed through the bridge circuit.