Adaptive Charging Control for Pulsed-Load Power Supply Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power supply systems for portable medical devices with pulsed load profiles face challenges in optimizing battery lifetime due to high power demands and space constraints, necessitating efficient energy storage and charging strategies.
Innovation Solution
A controller adjusts the charging current based on the repetition rate of the pulsed load to optimize energy storage device usage, prolonging battery life by increasing or decreasing the charging current accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a high charging current is used to quickly recharge the energy storage device between pulses, then the power delivery capability is improved, but the battery degradation accelerates and lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The charging current is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller continuously monitors the pulse repetition rate and adjusts the charging current accordingly - using higher currents when pulses are frequent and lower currents when pulses are spaced out. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching charging intensity to actual demand, ensuring power delivery capability when needed while minimizing battery stress during low-demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging current parameter based on the pulse repetition rate. By monitoring how frequently pulses occur and adjusting the charging current parameter in response, the system optimizes the balance between recharging speed and battery preservation. This parameter adaptation allows the system to deliver required power while extending battery lifetime through reduced degradation.
2Reliability
If a low charging current is used to minimize battery degradation, then the battery lifetime is extended, but the energy storage device may not be fully recharged between pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The charging current duration and magnitude are dynamically adjusted based on the observed pulse repetition rate. When pulses occur frequently, the system applies higher charging currents for shorter durations. When pulses are spaced out, lower charging currents are applied for longer durations. This dynamic timing and intensity adjustment ensures full recharging between pulses while minimizing overall battery stress and extending lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the pulse repetition rate and using this information to adjust charging parameters. The controller observes the actual pulse pattern and modifies charging current and duration accordingly, ensuring that the energy storage device is fully recharged between pulses while optimizing battery lifetime. This closed-loop feedback resolves the contradiction between charging completeness and battery preservation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed charging current is used, then the charging circuit is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to varying pulse repetition rates and optimizes battery lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to monitor the pulse repetition rate and automatically adjust the charging current. This feedback mechanism provides adaptability to varying pulse patterns while maintaining reasonable circuit simplicity. The controller receives information about pulse timing and modifies charging parameters in response, enabling the system to adapt to different operating conditions without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple fixed circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging circuit transitions from a static fixed current design to a dynamic adaptive design. By making the charging current variable and responsive to pulse repetition rate, the system gains versatility and adaptability. This dynamic approach allows the same circuit to optimize performance across different operating scenarios, from frequent to sparse pulses, while maintaining ease of implementation through a single unified control strategy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Controllers, power supplies and methods are disclosed for a power supply circuit having an energy storage device and for a load with a pulsed load profile, the controller configured to: control a charging circuit for supplying a charging current to the energy storage device for recharging the energy storage device; receive a signal indicative of a repetition rate of the pulsed load; and change the charging current in response to a change in the repetition rate of the pulsed load.