Battery Charge Modulator Managing Adapter Current Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery chargers face safety concerns when the system load exceeds the adapter's power rating, leading to potential over-current conditions, as they decrease charging current to prevent adapter overload, but existing solutions fail to effectively manage this transition and control the converter to prevent adapter overload.
Innovation Solution
A battery charge modulator is introduced, which operates in both buck and boost modes to manage the transition by providing discharge current from the battery to the system load, using a controller and power stage with electronic switches and an inductor to sense and control currents, ensuring the adapter does not exceed its maximum current limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging current is decreased to prevent adapter overload, then the adapter current limit is maintained, but the system load cannot receive sufficient power
Solution Approach 1:
The battery serves as an intermediary energy storage device between the adapter and system load. When the adapter reaches its current limit, the battery discharges to supplement the power delivery, allowing the system load to receive sufficient power while the adapter remains within safe operating limits. This is achieved through a power management integrated circuit that controls the battery discharge current to fill the power gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operating parameters of the power conversion circuitry, switching between charging mode (when adapter power is sufficient) and discharge mode (when additional power is needed). The power management circuit monitors adapter current and battery charge state, adjusting the converter operation to maintain adapter compliance while meeting load demands through parameter modulation.
2Productivity
If the system allows temporary exceedance of adapter power rating, then the system can handle peak loads, but safety concerns arise from potential over-current conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is pre-charged during periods when the adapter has excess capacity, storing energy in advance for when peak loads occur. The power management circuit continuously monitors the battery charge state and adapter current, ensuring the battery is ready to discharge when needed. This preliminary energy storage eliminates the need for the adapter to exceed its rating during peak demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring of adapter current, battery charge state, and system load demands. The power management integrated circuit uses this feedback to dynamically control the power conversion circuitry, switching between charging and discharging modes to maintain adapter current within safe limits while meeting peak load requirements through coordinated battery support.
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
The battery charge modulator effectively prevents adapter overload by dynamically switching between buck and boost modes, ensuring the adapter operates within its limits while maintaining system load requirements, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a converter having an inductor and a first and second electronic switches
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling a converter of a power stage receiving an adapter current for providing current to a load. The converter is operative in a buck mode for charging a battery and in a boost mode for discharging the battery to the load to supplement adapter current. The adapter current is compared with a predetermined level to develop a control signal, and at least one pulse control signal is developed based on the control signal and used to control the modulator. The modulator operates the converter in the buck mode when the adapter current up to the predetermined level, and operates the converter in the boost mode when the adapter current exceeds the predetermined level. The battery current may also be monitored to adjust the control signal to limit battery charge or discharge current in both modes.