Balancing Element for Seamless Battery Hot Swap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile device systems shut down and require reboot when replacing a nearly empty battery with a fully charged one, leading to inconvenient startup and reboot times, especially in scenarios without reliable recharging infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a power connector and a balancing element that allows power to be supplied from a first rechargeable energy source to a second rechargeable energy source during battery replacement, preventing power interruption and enabling seamless switching without shutdown or reboot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a nearly empty battery is removed and replaced with a fully charged one, then the battery energy storage is improved, but the system requires shutdown and reboot which increases loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of a second battery while the first battery is still in use. The balancing element charges the second battery from the power supply line before the first battery is removed, so that when battery replacement occurs, the second battery is already fully charged and ready to immediately take over power supply without requiring system shutdown or reboot.
2Use of energy by moving object
If battery replacement is performed, then the battery energy storage is improved, but the power supply continuity deteriorates due to shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing element acts as an intermediary between the power supply line and the second battery. It controls the charging process of the second battery while preventing it from discharging back to the power supply line. During battery replacement, the balancing element enables seamless switching by ensuring the second battery is charged and ready to immediately supply power, maintaining continuous operation without shutdown.
3Reliability
If a balancing element is added to enable hot swapping, then the power supply continuity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing element is designed to perform multiple functions: it charges the second battery from the power supply line, prevents reverse discharge to the power supply, and enables hot swapping capability. This multi-functional design achieves power supply continuity and seamless battery replacement without requiring multiple separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 continuous operation and avoids shutdown or reboot during battery replacement, ensuring uninterrupted service and maintaining energy storage in the second rechargeable energy source for extended use, even without external power.
Implementation Method 1
a balancing element placed between the power supply line and the second rechargeable energy source and configured to provide power from the power supply line to the second rechargeable energy in a first state of the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
configured to provide power from the second rechargeable energy source to the power supply line in a second state of the apparatus
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
It is inter alia disclosed an apparatus (10), comprising a power connector (210) configured to be connected to a removable first rechargeable energy source and configured to supply power from the first rechargeable energy source to the apparatus via a power supply line (220), a second rechargeable energy source (240), a balancing element (230) placed between the power supply line (220) and the second rechargeable energy source (240) and configured to provide power from the power supply line (220) to the second rechargeable energy in a first state of the apparatus and configured to provide power from the second rechargeable energy source (240) to the power supply line (220) in a second state of the apparatus, wherein in the first state the apparatus is configured to prevent supplying power from the second rechargeable power supply (240) to the power supply line (220).