Battery Charging System with Parallel Paths for Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charging methods fail to balance high charging rates with battery protection from harmful conditions such as high temperatures, which can lead to reduced battery lifespan or even explosion.
Innovation Solution
A battery charging system with two parallel paths for charging current, one from an energy source and one from a controlled charging device, controlled by a unit that communicates with state sensors to adjust charging based on detected battery states, such as temperature or State of Charge, to prevent harmful conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high charging current is supplied to the battery, then charging rate is improved, but battery temperature increases and battery safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into two independent parallel paths: a first charging path from an energy source and a second charging path from a controlled charging device. This segmentation allows independent control of each path's charging current based on battery state, enabling high overall charging rate while preventing harmful temperature rise through selective path disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors battery state (temperature, voltage, current) and provides feedback to dynamically adjust the charging configuration. When battery temperature or other parameters exceed thresholds, the control unit disconnects the first charging path and/or reduces current through the second path, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains safety while optimizing charging rate.
2Productivity
If high charging current is supplied to the battery, then charging rate is improved, but battery lifetime deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically adapts the charging current based on real-time battery state monitoring. The control unit adjusts the charging configuration from high-current dual-path mode to reduced-current single-path mode as battery state changes, preventing permanent damage from excessive current while maintaining high charging rates during safe operating conditions, thereby extending battery lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operating parameters (charging current magnitude, number of active charging paths) based on detected battery state parameters (temperature, voltage, current). By dynamically adjusting these parameters rather than maintaining fixed high-current charging, the system achieves high charging rates when safe while preventing the cumulative damage that reduces battery lifetime.
3Reliability
If controlled charging is implemented with state monitoring, then battery protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors battery state parameters, determines appropriate charging configurations, controls switching between charging paths, and adjusts charging current levels. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into a single integrated control unit, improving reliability through comprehensive monitoring while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the battery and the dual charging paths. It processes battery state information and translates it into appropriate charging configurations, mediating between the conflicting requirements of high charging rate and battery protection. This intermediary role centralizes the complexity in a dedicated control component rather than distributing it across multiple independent systems.
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 allows for high charging rates while prolonging battery lifespan by adjusting charging current in response to detected states, preventing overheating and other harmful conditions, and is adaptable to different battery types by adjusting parameters and thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
a state sensor for receiving information regarding the detected state of the battery
Implementation Method 2
the control unit is adapted to control the supply of charging current along the first and second paths
Data Source
AI summary
A battery charging system (15) and method for state controlled charging of a battery (12). The battery charging system comprises two parallel paths (16, 17) for supplying charging current to the battery (12) from two parallel sources of charging current, an energy source (13) and a controlled charging device (14). A control unit (18) is adapted to control the supply of charging current along the two paths in response to a detected state of the battery (12). If a state above a predetermined threshold is detected, the control unit (18) controls the supply of charging current such that the battery (12) receives charging current from the controlled charging device (14), but not directly from the energy source (13). The detected state of the battery may e.g. be a temperature state. The present invention allows for balancing the demands of high charging rate and long expected lifetime of the battery (12).