Battery Charge Scheduling for Lifespan and Readiness Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries in battery-powered devices experience accelerated degradation due to improper charging practices, such as maintaining low or high states of charge for prolonged periods, frequent recharging, and rapid charging, which reduces their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method dynamically manages the charging of rechargeable energy storage elements by estimating readiness time, using different charging rates and states of charge based on historical usage data and external communications to minimize degradation and ensure timely availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If batteries are charged quickly or maintained at extreme states of charge, then charging time is reduced, but battery lifespan is shortened due to accelerated degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically adjusts charging rates based on real-time battery state assessment and predicted usage patterns. The processor monitors battery temperature, charge level, and historical usage data to modulate charging speed, transitioning between aggressive charging when time is critical and conservative charging when battery health is prioritized, thereby resolving the contradiction between charging speed and battery lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes charging parameters (current, voltage, temperature thresholds) based on battery state and predicted needs. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than using fixed charging profiles, the system can optimize between fast charging and battery preservation depending on the specific situation, addressing the contradiction between charging time and battery durability
2Ease of operation
If batteries are maintained at maximum or minimum states of charge, then availability is improved, but degradation is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging to an optimal intermediate state (e.g., 40-60% charge) based on predicted usage patterns, rather than charging to maximum capacity. By anticipating when the battery will be needed and pre-charging to a sufficient but not excessive level, the system ensures availability while avoiding the degradation associated with prolonged maximum charge states
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors battery state, temperature, and usage patterns, then adjusts maintenance charge levels accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain battery availability when needed while automatically reducing maintenance charge levels during periods of low usage, thereby preventing degradation from prolonged extreme charge states
3Ease of operation
If frequent recharging is performed, then battery availability is maintained, but degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial charging cycles based on predicted needs rather than complete charge-discharge cycles. By charging to only the necessary level (partial action) rather than always charging to 100%, the system maintains availability while reducing the cumulative stress on the battery that results from frequent full charging cycles
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments are provided for dynamic management of charge. A method involves obtaining an estimated readiness time for an energy storage element, obtaining a target state of charge for the energy storage element, calculating an estimated charging time based at least in part on a difference between the target state of charge and a current state of charge, using a first charging rate to charge the energy storage element to an intermediate state of charge responsive to determining a time difference between the estimated readiness time and a first time is greater than the estimated charging time, maintaining the energy storage element at the intermediate state of charge, and responsive to determining a time difference between the estimated readiness time and a second time is less than the estimated charging time, using a second charging rate to charge the energy storage element to the target state of charge.