Battery Charging Control via Multi-Sensor Temperature Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in stabilizing battery charging due to temperature imbalances within the battery, leading to potential damage and inefficient charging, as current technologies do not effectively manage temperature differences across various areas of the battery during charging.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with multiple temperature sensors to measure temperature differences across distinct areas of the battery, utilizing a processor to adjust charging currents and voltages based on these measurements to maintain optimal temperature balance and prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high current charging is applied to increase charging speed, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases causing reliability to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidbattery safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is divided into multiple regions with temperature sensors placed at different locations (e.g., upper, lower, left, right regions). This segmentation allows independent temperature monitoring of each region, enabling targeted current adjustment for specific hot spots while maintaining normal charging in cooler regions, thus resolving the contradiction between charging speed and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The charging current is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature measurements from multiple regions. The controller continuously monitors temperature changes and modulates the charging current accordingly - increasing current when temperatures are safe and reducing current when temperature thresholds are approached, thereby maintaining both high productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If uniform charging current is applied to all battery regions, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to temperature imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging control simplicityVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different charging currents are applied to different battery regions based on their local temperature conditions. Regions with higher temperatures receive reduced current while cooler regions maintain normal charging current. This local quality approach ensures temperature uniformity across the battery while maintaining relatively simple overall control through a centralized controller that manages multiple regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If multiple temperature sensors are deployed to improve measurement precision, then temperature monitoring accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensors serve multiple functions: they monitor temperature for safety, detect temperature gradients for current adjustment, and provide data for charging state estimation. This multi-functionality justifies the use of multiple sensors while avoiding unnecessary complexity, as the same sensor network supports multiple charging control objectives simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The solution stabilizes battery charging by reducing temperature and charge imbalances, preventing damage and enhancing charging efficiency by dynamically adjusting charging parameters based on real-time temperature readings from various battery areas.

Implementation Method 1

a first sensor positioned in a first area of the battery or in an area in proximity of the first area in the circuit board and for measuring a first temperature corresponding to the first area; a second sensor positioned in a second area of the battery or in an area in proximity of the second area in the circuit board and for measuring a second temperature corresponding to the second area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3340424B1Electronic device and method of controlling charging of the same
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3340424B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3340424B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3340424B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device includes a circuit board; a battery; and a charging circuitry for charging the battery. The electronic device also includes a first sensor positioned in a first area of the battery or in an area in proximity of the first area in the circuit board for measuring a first temperature corresponding to the first area and a second sensor positioned in a second area of the battery or in an area in proximity of the second area in the circuit board for measuring a second temperature corresponding to the second area. The electronic device also includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured to acquire the first temperature via the first sensor and the second temperature via the second sensor. The processor is also configured to charge the battery with a specified current when a difference between the first and the second temperature satisfies a designated condition.