Battery Capacity Computing Unit Cycle-Based Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery charge level display technologies, such as those described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-44895, inaccurately represent battery capacity as a percentage due to not accounting for differences in current magnitude and flow patterns, leading to incorrect charge level displays and the need for separate batteries for accurate representation.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a battery capacity computing unit that calculates the current full-charge capacity using information on the battery's brand-new capacity, charge/discharge cycle count, and a correction coefficient, which is dynamically determined based on the current integration values of charge/discharge current, allowing for accurate battery capacity correction and display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the current integration value is corrected only according to the number of charge/discharge cycles, then the correction process is simple, but the battery charge level display accuracy deteriorates due to not accounting for differences in current magnitude and flow patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrection process complexityVSAvoidbattery charge level display accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by switching between different correction methods based on the charge/discharge cycle count. When cycles are below a threshold, simple cycle-based correction is used. When cycles exceed the threshold, the system transitions to a more sophisticated correction method that incorporates current magnitude and flow pattern parameters, thereby adapting the correction complexity to the actual battery wear stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the correction method adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically selects the appropriate correction approach based on real-time monitoring of charge/discharge cycle counts and current characteristics. This allows the correction process to evolve from simple to complex as needed, optimizing both computational efficiency and accuracy throughout the battery's lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If different correction methods are used for different devices with varying current patterns, then the battery charge level display accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to needing to track and differentiate usage patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery charge level display accuracyVSAvoidusage pattern tracking complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes by modifying the correction approach based on the charge/discharge cycle count threshold. Instead of tracking detailed usage patterns continuously, the system changes the correction parameters (method selection) based on the cycle count, which indirectly captures the effect of different usage patterns without requiring complex real-time monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies this principle by using a simple, disposable-like correction strategy for the early battery life phase (below threshold cycles). The simple correction method is sufficient for this phase, and when the battery wears beyond the threshold, the system transitions to a different correction approach, effectively replacing the correction strategy rather than maintaining a complex system throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single battery is used for multiple devices with different current characteristics, then the versatility improves, but the battery charge level display accuracy deteriorates due to incompatible correction coefficients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery compatibility across devicesVSAvoidbattery charge level display accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by creating a correction system that works across different devices and usage patterns. By using the charge/discharge cycle count as a universal parameter that applies to all devices, the system can provide accurate correction regardless of the specific device or current characteristics, making the battery interchangeable across multiple devices without sacrificing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9153848B2Electronic device, battery pack, and method of computing battery pack capacity
Publication Date: 2015.10.06 SONY GROUP CORP
  • US9153848B2 patent drawing
  • US9153848B2 patent drawing
  • US9153848B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An electronic device includes a battery capacity computing unit configured to compute a current full-charge capacity of a currently inserted battery apparatus having secondary cells. The battery capacity computing unit acquires at least information on a full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus in a brand-new state and information on the battery charge/discharge cycle count from the battery apparatus, retains a correction coefficient used when computing the current full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus, and calculates the current full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus using the information on the full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus in a brand-new state, the information on the battery charge/discharge cycle count, and the correction coefficient.