Adaptive Charging Power Control for Surface Heat Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices, such as laptops, experience increased heat generation during data processing and charging, leading to user discomfort and potential performance degradation, as existing heat control methods either degrade performance or require expensive heat dissipation materials.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with multiple temperature sensors and a processor that adjusts charging power based on measured temperatures and operational states to predict and control surface heat generation, allowing for efficient heat management without the need for expensive materials like heat pipes or fans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-power charging is used to increase charging speed, then charging time is reduced, but heat generation increases causing user discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidsurface temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The charging power is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature monitoring and predicted surface temperature calculations. The system transitions from static high-power charging to adaptive power management, modifying charging parameters according to thermal conditions to maintain user comfort while optimizing charging speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system calculates predicted surface temperature in advance based on battery temperature and charging power before actual surface heating occurs. This preliminary thermal assessment allows proactive adjustment of charging power to prevent uncomfortable surface temperatures, rather than reacting after overheating occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Temperature

If traditional heat control methods are used to reduce surface temperature, then user comfort is improved, but device performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface temperatureVSAvoiddevice performance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where temperature sensors continuously monitor battery temperature, the processor calculates predicted surface temperature, and charging power is adjusted based on this feedback loop. This closed-loop control maintains surface temperature within comfortable ranges while minimizing performance degradation by only reducing power when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Temperature

If expensive heat dissipation materials like heat pipes or fans are used, then surface heat generation is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface temperatureVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces mechanical heat dissipation components (heat pipes, fans) with an intelligent software-based thermal management approach. The processor performs thermal calculations and adjusts charging power through software control, eliminating the need for expensive mechanical cooling systems while achieving similar surface temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device performs its own thermal management through internal temperature sensing and processor-based control algorithms. The system self-regulates charging power based on its own thermal state, eliminating the need for external or additional expensive heat dissipation hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20230132431A1Method for controlling surface heat generation electronic device and storage medium therefor

Publication Date: 2023.05.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device having a housing, a battery, a charging circuit, a plurality of temperature sensors in the housing, a processor operatively connected with the battery, the charging circuit, and the plurality of temperature sensors, and a memory. The memory storing instructions configured to, when executed, enable the electronic device to measure temperature values using one or more of the plurality of temperature sensors, in response to a temperature value associated with the battery being within a threshold value, calculate a predicted surface temperature based on at least one of the measured temperature values and a position of each temperature sensor, identify a control step among a plurality of control steps based on an operational state of at least one device associated with the electronic device and the predicted surface temperature, and adjust charging power for the battery through the charging circuit in response to the identified control step.