Battery Charger with Dynamic Current Distribution for Simultaneous Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery chargers can only charge one battery at a time, leading to lengthy recharge periods when multiple batteries are needed, as they do not optimize the use of the maximum charge current available from the power supply.
Innovation Solution
A battery charger with a power source supplying a primary charge current to one battery and a charge manager configured to supply a secondary charge current to another battery, using a controlled current/voltage source and a charge manager controller to adjust the secondary charge current based on a continuous comparison between the maximum current limit and the total current drawn, ensuring efficient use of the available current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single-capacity charger is used to charge one battery at a time, then the charging process is simple and reliable, but the charging time becomes excessively long when multiple batteries need to be charged
Solution Approach 1:
The charger is divided into multiple independent charge circuits (first charge circuit and second charge circuit), each capable of charging a battery independently. This segmentation allows simultaneous charging of multiple batteries while maintaining the simplicity and reliability of individual charging paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger is designed with multi-functional capability to charge multiple batteries simultaneously through different charge circuits. The power supply unit can serve multiple charging paths, transforming a single-function device into a multi-function system that increases productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple batteries are charged simultaneously using existing chargers, then the total charging time is reduced, but the chargers do not optimize the use of maximum charge current resulting in unnecessarily long charge times
Solution Approach 1:
Each charge circuit includes a current detection unit that continuously monitors the charging current. The control unit receives feedback from these detection units and dynamically adjusts the current distribution to optimize charging efficiency. This feedback mechanism ensures that the maximum charge current is fully utilized while preventing overcharging.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge current distribution is made dynamic rather than static. The control unit continuously adjusts the current allocated to each battery based on real-time charging status, battery capacity, and power availability. This dynamic adjustment optimizes charging efficiency and reduces total charging time.
3Speed
If the charge current is increased to reduce charging time, then the charging speed improves, but the risk of overcharging and damage to batteries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current detection units provide continuous feedback on the charging current and battery status. The control unit uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the current magnitude, increasing it when batteries can handle higher rates and reducing it when approaching safety limits. This closed-loop control maintains high charging speed while ensuring battery safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging parameters (current magnitude, voltage) are dynamically changed based on battery state of charge, temperature, and capacity. The system transitions between different charging phases with different parameter settings, allowing high-speed charging when safe and reducing current when approaching safety thresholds, thus optimizing both speed and reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A battery charger includes a power source for supplying a primary charge current to a first battery, and a charge manager for charging a second battery. The charge manager is coupled to the power source and is configured to charge the second battery with a secondary charge current in accordance with a continuous comparison between a predefined maximum current limit and a total current drawn from the power source.