Adaptive Charging Circuit for Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery charging circuits in portable electronic devices limit charging current to a fixed level regardless of the charger type or current magnitude, necessitating automatic differentiation of chargers and adaptive charging schemes.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device with a processor and selector that dynamically couples USB pins to detect charger characteristics, providing appropriate voltage and grounding signals to determine and adjust charging current, using resistors or capacitors to identify charger capabilities and switch between single or multiple power pins for charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed charging current level is used regardless of charger type, then the charging circuit is simple to implement, but the charging efficiency and battery performance are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the charging current parameter dynamically based on detected charger characteristics. The processor detects charger type through data pin coupling relationships and adjusts the charging current accordingly (e.g., 5V/0.5A for standard USB, higher currents for USB Power Delivery). This allows the charging circuit to optimize charging efficiency while adapting to different charger capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the processor continuously detects the charging current value through the battery charging circuit and uses this information to adjust charging parameters. The detection of data pin coupling relationships provides feedback about charger type, which then feeds back to control the charging current level, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes charging performance.
2Productivity
If automatic charger differentiation is implemented, then charging efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing data pins serve multiple functions: their primary function for data communication and their secondary function for charger type detection. By detecting the coupling relationships of these multi-functional pins, the system identifies charger types without requiring separate dedicated detection circuits, thus improving charging speed while minimizing additional hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the charging system to automatically identify and adapt to different charger types without user intervention. The processor autonomously detects data pin coupling relationships, determines charger capability, and adjusts charging parameters automatically. This self-service mechanism improves charging speed while avoiding the need for complex manual configuration interfaces or additional user-facing controls.
3Loss of time
If the full charging capacity of the charger is utilized, then charging time is reduced, but the risk of overcharging or incompatible charging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of charger type and capability before initiating full-power charging. The processor detects data pin coupling relationships and determines charger specifications in advance, then configures appropriate charging parameters. This preliminary action ensures that the full charging capacity is safely utilized by matching it to compatible chargers, reducing charging time while maintaining reliability through pre-verification of charger capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous feedback monitoring during charging to ensure safety. The system detects charging current values through the battery charging circuit and compares them against expected ranges for different charger types. If anomalies are detected (indicating potential incompatibility or overcharging risk), the system can adjust or terminate charging. This feedback mechanism allows full charging capacity utilization while maintaining safety through real-time monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable electronic device is provided. Connector includes the first and data pins. Processor includes input and output pins and detection pin coupled to the input pin. First resistor is coupled between the detection pin and first voltage. When the processor detects that the first and second pins of charger are coupled to the first and second data pins of the connector, the processor provides switching signal to the selector, so as to couple the first and second data pins of the connector to the input and output pins of the processor, respectively, and to provide second voltage different from the first voltage, to the second pin of the charger via the output pin. The processor obtains charging current value of the charger according to voltage of the detection pin. The charger includes second resistor coupled between the first and second pins.