User-Defined Charge Profiles for Cooler Battery Recharging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries experience a significant increase in temperature during charging, which reduces their lifespan and can lead to costly replacements, as existing methods like slow charging have been challenged as not being effective in prolonging battery life.
Innovation Solution
A battery recharging device with a user-defined charge profile generator that allows for intermittent charging based on a user-inputted time period, with specific charges applied during defined sub-periods to minimize temperature increase, using a power port and switch to control current flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous charging current is applied to the battery, then the battery charges faster, but the battery temperature increases significantly reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic charging by applying charging current in alternating intervals - charging during off-hours when temperature rise is acceptable, and pausing during periods when temperature management is critical. This periodic on/off charging pattern allows the battery to charge over time while preventing continuous heat accumulation that would degrade battery life.
2Reliability
If slow charging current is applied to the battery, then the battery temperature increases are reduced, but the charging time extends indefinitely
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic charging intervals rather than continuous slow charging. By alternating between charging and pausing phases, the battery receives sufficient charge over a reasonable time frame while the pause intervals allow temperature to stabilize, achieving both acceptable charging speed and temperature management.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts between different charging states - active charging phases and pause phases - based on temperature conditions and user-defined time periods. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between charging speed and temperature control, rather than using a fixed slow charging rate.
3Reliability
If charging occurs during user-defined time periods with intermittent pauses, then battery temperature is minimized extending battery life, but the charging process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic charging based on user-defined time periods, automatically switching between charging and pause phases. This programmed periodic operation simplifies the control logic compared to continuous monitoring and adjustment, as the charging pattern follows predetermined temporal intervals that balance temperature management with charging 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
This approach effectively reduces battery temperature and extends battery life by applying charges only when necessary, outperforming traditional slow charging methods in maintaining lower temperatures and prolonging battery usage.
Implementation Method 1
Rechargeable batteries are used in many devices including mobile phones, laptop and/or portable computers, tablets, personal digital assistants, camcorders, power tools and automobiles
Implementation Method 2
The increase in temperature decreases the number of times a battery may be recharged and thus decreases the 'lifetime' of the battery
Data Source
AI summary
Battery recharging devices include a power port, a user interface module for receiving a user input, a charge profile generator responsive to the user input for producing a charge profile, and a switch for enabling a current to flow to the battery based upon the charge profile. The charge profile is associated with a set of charges that are adapted to be applied to the battery during a user-defined time period. The set of charges comprises a first charge adapted to be applied to the battery during the user-defined time period during which the battery does not recharge. Methods of recharging batteries are also disclosed.