Battery Charging Control for Thermal and Brownout Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data processing systems face thermal management challenges due to inefficient battery charging, which limits the performance of hardware components providing computer-implemented services by diverting thermal dissipation capacity away from critical components.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for dynamically configuring power adapters and chargers based on the power state and voltage levels of the data processing system, battery, and power adapter, reducing power dissipation during charging and optimizing thermal dissipation for hardware components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If battery charging is performed using conventional power adapters and chargers, then the battery can be charged, but power dissipation increases and thermal dissipation capacity is diverted from critical hardware components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower dissipation during chargingVSAvoidthermal management of critical components

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically configures the power adapter and charger based on real-time power state and voltage level conditions. The management controller continuously monitors battery voltage, power state, and charging conditions, then adjusts the operating parameters of the power adapter and charger accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize power dissipation during charging while ensuring critical hardware components receive adequate thermal management resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes operating parameters (voltage levels, power delivery settings) of the power adapter and charger based on detected conditions. The management controller identifies voltage levels of the battery and power state of the system, then configures the power adapter and charger to operate at optimized parameters that reduce power dissipation while maintaining charging effectiveness and thermal management for critical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If power adapters and chargers operate at fixed configurations, then device complexity is reduced, but charging efficiency decreases and thermal management is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoiddynamic configuration system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management controller implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the power state, battery voltage level, and charging conditions. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts the configuration of the power adapter and charger to optimize charging efficiency. This closed-loop control system achieves high charging efficiency while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If thermal dissipation capacity is allocated to battery charging components, then charging can proceed, but hardware components providing computer-implemented services suffer from reduced thermal management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging operationVSAvoidthermal dissipation for critical components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the thermal management burden from critical hardware components by optimizing the charging process to generate less heat. By dynamically configuring the power adapter and charger to reduce power dissipation during charging, the system removes excess thermal load from the overall system, allowing thermal dissipation capacity to be preferentially allocated to hardware components that directly provide computer-implemented services while maintaining reliable charging operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 enhances the efficiency of battery charging, reduces the likelihood of undesirable outcomes like brownouts, and allows hardware components to operate at higher power consumption levels, improving the performance and responsiveness of computer-implemented services by prioritizing thermal dissipation for critical components.

Implementation Method 1

configuring a power adapter to supply first power at a second voltage level to a charger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical energy transformation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

configuring the charger to supply second power at a third voltage level to the battery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery charging conversion: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 3

charging the battery using the configured power adapter and the configured charger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical energy storage: Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentUS20240405587A1Managing impacts of battery charging on data processing systems

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Methods and systems for managing battery charging are disclosed. To manage battery charging, a data processing system may dynamically configure the operation of power adapters and chargers used to charge the battery. Dynamically configuring the operation of these devices may improve the efficiency of the charging thereby reducing power dissipation for charging the battery. Additionally, dynamically configuring the operation of these devices may also reduce the likelihood of brownout or other undesired impacts.