Adaptive Battery Charging for Fast Charge and Longer Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging technologies prioritize fast charging over battery longevity, leading to degradation of lithium-ion batteries due to variations in charging devices and user practices, lacking user understanding and industry standards.
Innovation Solution
A charging system that determines and maintains the minimum rate of charge (RoC) for batteries, monitoring and adjusting the charging process to ensure the battery accepts the charge, thereby extending its useful life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fast charging is prioritized to improve short-term convenience, then charging speed is improved, but battery life and device longevity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically adjusts the charging rate based on real-time monitoring of battery state, temperature, and charge acceptance. The charger controller continuously modifies charging parameters to optimize between speed and battery health, transitioning from static fast-charging modes to adaptive charging that responds to battery conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the charger controller monitors battery charge acceptance, temperature, and voltage levels, then adjusts charging current accordingly. This closed-loop control prevents excessive charging rates that would damage the battery while maintaining optimal charging speed when conditions permit.
2Loss of time
If high charging current is applied to reduce charging time, then charging efficiency is improved, but heat generation and battery degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system employs periodic charging pulses followed by rest intervals, allowing the battery to dissipate heat and stabilize between charge cycles. This pulsed charging approach maintains charging efficiency while preventing continuous high-current stress that generates excessive heat and accelerates degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors temperature and charge state to prevent harmful conditions before they occur. By detecting early signs of overheating or excessive charge acceptance, the controller reduces charging current in advance to avoid thermal runaway and lattice damage, cushioning the battery against harmful effects.
3Ease of operation
If charging rate is increased to improve user convenience, then charging speed is improved, but battery lattice stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes charging parameters such as current rate, voltage, and pulse duration based on battery state of charge, temperature, and age. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains user convenience through fast charging when appropriate while protecting lattice stability by reducing stress during critical charging phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger performs preliminary assessment of battery condition before initiating full-speed charging, and continuously monitors during charging to detect when lattice stress becomes excessive. This preliminary and ongoing protection ensures lattice stability is maintained while still providing fast charging capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging system is provided. The charging system includes a charging device including an electrical input for receiving electrical energy, at least one output for outputting electrical energy, and a communication interface; and a charger controller programmed to a) determine a current rate of charging for a connected device; b) provide electrical energy to the connected device based upon the current rate of charging; c) determine if the connected device accepts the electrical energy at the current rate of charging; and/or d) if the connected device does not accept the electrical energy at the current rate of charging, increase the current rate of charging until the connected device accepts the electrical energy at the current rate of charging.