Auxiliary Cell Battery Charge Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-cell indicators for electrical storage devices require user activation and have short operational lives due to continuous power usage, making them inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A state of charge indicator system that includes an auxiliary cell with a voltage inversely proportional to the energy storage device's voltage, which remains inactive until the voltage difference exceeds a display threshold, activating the indicator only when necessary and extending its operational life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the indicator is continuously powered to display state of charge, then the user can easily monitor battery status, but the operational life of the electro-chromic display becomes very short (less than a few weeks)
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is powered periodically rather than continuously. A controller activates the electro-chromic display only at specific intervals to show the state of charge, then deactivates it to conserve energy. This periodic operation allows the indicator to fulfill its monitoring function while dramatically extending the operational life of the electro-chromic display beyond the few weeks limitation of continuous operation.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the indicator requires user activation (pressing buttons), then the indicator can remain inactive to conserve energy, but the user must remove and handle the battery which is cumbersome and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator system performs self-service by automatically monitoring and displaying the state of charge without requiring user activation. The controller autonomously determines when to activate the electro-chromic display based on battery voltage thresholds, eliminating the need for users to remove batteries or press buttons. This self-service approach maintains ease of monitoring while conserving energy through selective activation.
3Loss of information
If the indicator is always active to show battery status, then the user can immediately see the state of charge, but energy is continuously consumed reducing the indicator's service life
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by activating the electro-chromic display only at specific intervals when voltage thresholds are reached, rather than maintaining continuous operation. This ensures battery status information is made available to users at critical moments while minimizing energy consumption, thereby extending the indicator's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors battery voltage and uses feedback to determine when activation is necessary. When the voltage difference between the battery and auxiliary cell exceeds a threshold, the controller activates the indicator to display the state of charge. This feedback mechanism ensures information is provided only when needed, optimizing both information availability and energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables user-independent battery state monitoring without activation and significantly prolongs the indicator's operational life by conserving energy until the battery's state requires indication.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary cell having an auxiliary cell voltage that is inverse-proportional to an energy storage voltage of an energy storage device
Implementation Method 2
Electro-chromic displays draw very little power from the battery being tested and can therefore remain on and allow the user to just look at the battery to determine the state of charge
Data Source
AI summary
A state of charge indicator may include an indicator with a display threshold and an auxiliary cell having an auxiliary cell voltage. The auxiliary cell may be electrically coupled to the indicator such that when a difference between a main cell voltage of a main cell and the auxiliary cell voltage is less than the display threshold, the indicator is inactive and when the difference between the main cell voltage and the auxiliary cell voltage is greater than or about equal to the display threshold, the indicator is active.