Battery Charger Forced Battery Mode for Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery chargers face challenges in detecting failure conditions such as disconnection or fully drained batteries without additional hardware, particularly due to the absence of analog-digital converters (ADCs), leading to confusion between low battery voltage indicative of disconnection or a dead battery.
Innovation Solution
The method involves switching the battery charger to a forced battery mode by adjusting a register threshold, allowing the controller to determine if the charger successfully switches to this mode, thereby detecting connection status and failure conditions without continuous voltage monitoring, using the system voltage as a threshold to differentiate between operational and failure states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional battery chargers use basic voltage monitoring without ADCs, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the ability to accurately detect battery status and differentiate between disconnection and fully drained conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the battery charger by forcing it into battery mode and monitoring the system voltage response. Instead of using complex ADC hardware, the solution monitors voltage threshold changes that occur when the charger attempts to operate in battery mode, thereby detecting battery status through parameter observation rather than direct measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for analog-digital converter (ADC) hardware with a software-based detection method. By using the existing battery charger circuitry and monitoring system voltage responses, the solution substitutes complex hardware measurement systems with a simpler control-based detection approach
2Measurement precision
If battery chargers continuously monitor voltage to detect failure conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases and device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by attempting to force the battery charger into battery mode at specific intervals or under specific conditions rather than continuously monitoring. The system periodically checks battery status by trying to switch modes and observing the response, thereby reducing continuous power consumption while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the battery charger's own operational characteristics and existing voltage monitoring capabilities to detect battery status. Rather than adding separate continuous monitoring circuits, the solution leverages the charger's built-in responses to mode switching attempts, allowing the system to self-diagnose battery conditions using its own operational behavior
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating a battery charger are described. A controller of a battery charger can switch an operation mode of a battery charger to a forced battery mode. The controller can detect whether the operation mode successfully switched to the forced battery mode or failed to switch to the forced battery mode. The controller can, in response to the operation mode successfully switched to the forced battery mode, determine the battery charger is connected to a battery. The controller can, in response to the operation mode failed to switch to the forced battery mode, determine an occurrence of a failure condition associated with the battery charger.