Battery Charger Monitoring to Detect Multiple Charging Sources
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mistakenly coupling a battery unit or set to multiple distinct battery chargers at the same time can damage the battery, exposing it to excessive charging parameters and preventing the rechargeable battery system from meeting the power requirements for building-safety control systems, potentially leading to missed alarm conditions.
Innovation Solution
A controller for a communications network that performs a multiple-charging source detection process, where battery chargers are placed in a monitoring mode to detect charging activity, synchronize their operations using a TDMA scheme, and initiate responses such as deactivating mis-configured chargers to prevent simultaneous charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple battery chargers are coupled to the same battery unit/set, then charging capacity is increased, but the battery may be damaged by excessive charging parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where each battery charger monitors the battery voltage and communicates with the controller. When multiple chargers are detected, the system receives feedback signals and automatically deactivates excess chargers to maintain safe charging parameters while still utilizing multiple chargers for increased capacity when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically changes charging parameters (voltage, current) based on the number of active chargers and battery state. When multiple chargers are detected, the system adjusts parameters to prevent excessive charging while allowing the benefit of multiple charging sources when properly configured.
2Reliability
If a monitoring mode is implemented to detect multiple chargers, then battery damage is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it manages normal charging operations, detects multiple charger configurations, monitors battery parameters, and controls charger activation/deactivation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated monitoring hardware, thereby limiting complexity increase while maintaining reliable battery protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring and detection functions are merged into the existing charger control circuitry and controller. Rather than adding separate monitoring systems, the patent combines multiple functions (charging control, detection, monitoring, and protection) into integrated circuits and controllers that already exist in the system.
3Reliability
If battery chargers are synchronized using TDMA scheme, then simultaneous charging conflicts are resolved, but time management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic time slots where each battery charger is activated in sequence rather than simultaneously. This periodic activation pattern, managed through TDMA protocols, resolves conflicts by ensuring only one charger attempts to charge at a time while still allowing multiple chargers to serve the battery system across different time periods.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A controller of a communications network includes a processor that creates a monitoring set of battery chargers by placing a set of battery chargers in a monitoring mode. The processor performs multiple iterations of a multiple-charging source (MCS) detection process (300, 400). Each multiple iteration of the MCS detection process (300, 400) includes creating an active one of the monitoring set of battery chargers by placing one of the monitoring set of battery chargers in an active state in which the active one of the monitoring set of battery chargers attempts to charge any battery to which the active one of the monitoring set of battery chargers is connected; and logging an error event based at least in part on at least one of the monitoring set of battery chargers detecting charging activity on any battery to which the monitoring set of battery chargers is connected.