Adaptive Charge Current for Battery Cycle Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
The repeated charging and discharging of batteries in mobile devices, especially when power sharing occurs between an AC adapter and a battery, leads to degradation of battery cycle life, particularly when this happens in higher voltage ranges.
Innovation Solution
A battery charging controller adjusts the charge current based on the battery's voltage range, reducing the charge current when the battery is in a higher voltage range to mitigate degradation, and using a normal charge current when in a lower voltage range, thereby extending the battery's cycle life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power sharing is used to provide necessary power to the mobile device, then the system power requirements are met, but the battery experiences repeated charging and discharging which degrades battery cycle life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the charge current adaptive rather than fixed. The battery charging controller dynamically adjusts the charge current based on real-time battery voltage measurements, transitioning between different charge current levels as the battery voltage changes during charging cycles. This dynamic adjustment prevents excessive charge current at high voltage states, thereby reducing battery degradation while still meeting power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of charge current based on battery voltage range. When the battery voltage is in a higher voltage range, the charge current is reduced to a first charge current level; when the battery voltage is in a lower voltage range, the charge current is increased to a second charge current level. This parameter change strategy optimizes battery charging by applying appropriate current levels for different voltage states, extending battery cycle life while maintaining power sharing functionality.
2Productivity
If the battery is charged with higher charge current to meet power demands, then the charging speed is improved, but the battery degradation is accelerated especially in higher voltage ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the charge current dynamic by continuously monitoring battery voltage and adjusting the charge current accordingly. The battery charging controller transitions between different charge current levels based on the battery voltage range, ensuring high charging speed when the battery is in lower voltage ranges and reducing charge current when the battery voltage is high, thus preventing accelerated degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charge current parameter based on the battery voltage range. A battery charging controller adjusts the charge current from a second charge current level (higher current for faster charging) when the battery voltage is in a lower voltage range to a first charge current level (lower current to prevent degradation) when the battery voltage is in a higher voltage range. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between charging speed and battery degradation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for adjusting the charge for a battery under a power sharing arrangement is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining if power output capacity of an alternating current (AC) adapter is less than or greater than a system power requirement for a system that receives power from the AC adapter and a battery, determining a charge current for charging the battery from the AC adapter, based on a voltage range of the battery, the current charge being less than excess current available from the AC adapter in view of determining that the power output capacity of the AC adapter is greater than the system power requirement, and controlling a battery charger to charge the battery with the charge current by specifying the charge current to the battery charger if the power output capacity of the AC adapter is greater than the system power requirement.