Battery Charging System with Cycle Count Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile workstations in healthcare environments face downtime and inconvenience due to the need for lengthy battery recharging, which requires idling the device and often necessitates extra workstations to ensure continuous use, as conventional batteries are heavy and difficult to swap.
Innovation Solution
A battery charging system with a control device that manages a plurality of interchangeable batteries, allowing for simultaneous recharging and intelligent battery selection based on charging cycle count, enabling seamless battery swapping without powering down the workstation and reducing variation in charging cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional rechargeable batteries are used in mobile workstations, then the workstation can operate without wall outlet connection, but the workstation experiences downtime during lengthy recharging periods
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into multiple interchangeable battery units. Instead of having a single battery that must be recharged in place, the system uses multiple battery modules that can be swapped out. When one battery is depleted, another can be quickly exchanged, eliminating the downtime associated with recharging a single battery.
Solution Approach 2:
Batteries are pre-charged in advance using a dedicated battery charging system with multiple docking stations. This preliminary charging action ensures that fully charged batteries are readily available for immediate exchange, eliminating the need to idle the workstation during recharging.
2Loss of time
If multiple interchangeable batteries are used to eliminate downtime, then continuous operation is achieved, but the batteries have heavy weight and are difficult to swap manually
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an automated battery swapping mechanism as an intermediary between the user and the heavy battery units. The workstation includes a battery compartment with automated ejection and insertion capabilities, allowing heavy batteries to be exchanged without manual lifting or carrying. The swapping process is facilitated by mechanical assistants that handle the weight and complexity of the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery swapping system is designed to be self-service, where the workstation automatically manages battery exchange operations. The system includes sensors and actuators that detect battery status, initiate swapping sequences, and complete the exchange without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite heavy battery weights.
3Productivity
If batteries are frequently swapped to maintain continuous operation, then workstation availability is improved, but variation in charging cycle count among batteries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery charging system incorporates feedback mechanisms through a control device that monitors charging cycle counts for each battery unit. This feedback information is used to intelligently manage battery assignment and charging schedules, ensuring that batteries are rotated through usage and charging cycles in a balanced manner, thereby maintaining uniformity in their composition and extending overall system life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as battery assignment to workstations and charging priorities based on real-time data about each battery's charge state and cycle count. By adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes both workstation availability and battery composition uniformity, preventing any single battery from being overused or underutilized.
4Device complexity
If a single battery is recharged at a wall outlet, then recharging infrastructure is simple, but the workstation must be idled and extra workstations are needed to ensure continuous use
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functions of multiple workstations into a single platform with interchangeable battery capability. Instead of requiring multiple identical workstations to ensure continuous availability, one workstation can use multiple battery units, combining the resources needed to maintain continuous operation with a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery charging system is designed with universal docking stations that can charge multiple battery types and configurations. This multi-functionality allows a single charging infrastructure to support the entire fleet of battery units, eliminating the need for dedicated charging equipment for each battery and reducing overall infrastructure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery charging system includes a housing having a plurality of docking stations coupled therewith. A control device is coupled with a battery charging interface of each of the plurality of docking stations, and is configured to reduce variation in charging cycle count among a plurality of batteries configured to dock with the battery charging interfaces. A method of reducing variation in charging cycle count in a system of batteries includes receiving inputs associated with a charging cycle count for each of a plurality of interchangeable batteries docked with a common battery charger, and outputting a battery selection signal based at least in part on the inputs.