Battery Charge Control Device Using Time-Map Power Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery charging systems set charge current based solely on battery temperature, leading to excessively long charging times, causing user discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A charge control device that calculates and controls charge power using a map indicating the relationship between battery state, charge time, and charge power to ensure charging is completed within an allowable time, preventing prolonged charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If charge current is set based solely on battery temperature, then battery safety is improved, but charging time becomes excessively long causing user discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the control parameters from temperature-only to a combination of temperature, charge power, and charge time parameters. By referring to a map showing relationships between these parameters, the system dynamically adjusts charge current to balance safety and charging speed, resolving the contradiction between battery safety and charging time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic charge control by continuously monitoring battery temperature and adjusting charge power in real-time based on the map data. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize charging speed while maintaining safety, preventing the excessive charging time issue caused by static temperature-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If charge power is increased to reduce charging time, then user comfort is improved, but battery temperature control and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging timeVSAvoidbattery temperature control
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback control by continuously monitoring battery temperature and charge state, then adjusting charge power based on the map data. This feedback mechanism ensures that charge power is increased only when safe, reducing charging time while maintaining temperature control and battery safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pre-established map data showing relationships between charge power, temperature, and charge time to predict safe charging conditions. This preliminary preparation allows the system to optimize charge power before actual charging occurs, reducing charging time while preventing temperature issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If constant current charging is used for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but charging efficiency and user satisfaction deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidcharging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a map-based intermediate layer between the simple temperature sensor and the charge control system. This map serves as a lookup table that translates temperature and charge state into appropriate charge power settings, maintaining control system simplicity while achieving efficient, adaptive charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2899844B1Charging control device and charging control method
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2899844B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2899844B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2899844B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A charge control device that charges a battery (20) to a predetermined charging rate using an output power from a charger (10) is provided. The device is provided with: a charger control means that controls the output power of the charger (10) based on a first map indicative of the relationship of the charge power with respect to the state of the battery (20) and the charge time of the battery (20), and an allowable charge time calculation means that calculates the allowable charge time of the battery charge time. The charge control device refers to the first map for calculating the charge power with which to charge the battery (20) in the allowable charge time, and controls the output power of the charger (10) according to the charge power calculated based on the allowable charge time.