Battery Controller Segmentation for High Current and Lifespan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium ion secondary batteries fail to provide sufficient continuous use time for electronic devices due to reduced lifespan when subjected to varying or high currents, which is critical for portable electronic equipment.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus for controlling batteries that includes a first current sensor, a first current limiter, and a second current activator, which senses and limits the first current when it exceeds a reference current, and activates the second current to supplement the power supply, allowing efficient combination of currents from batteries with different characteristics to extend battery lifespan and provide stable high output currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a lithium ion secondary battery is used to provide high current for various functions, then the power output is improved, but the battery lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into a first battery (liquid electrolyte) and a second battery (solid electrolyte), each serving different current ranges. The first battery handles low current conditions while the second battery activates for high current conditions, allowing the system to provide high power without continuously stressing a single battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery controller dynamically switches between the first and second batteries based on the current draw requirements. When the current exceeds the reference threshold, the second battery is activated; when it falls below, the second battery is deactivated. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both power output and battery lifespan based on real-time conditions.
2Power
If the first battery is designed for high current output, then the power capability is improved, but the battery size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery capacity is segmented between two batteries with different characteristics. The first battery (liquid electrolyte) is optimized for energy density and can be made smaller, while the second battery (solid electrolyte) provides supplemental power only when needed. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high current capability without requiring a single oversized battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The second battery with solid electrolyte serves multiple functions: it provides supplemental power during high current demands, extends the overall system lifespan, and can be designed with compact form factor since it only needs to handle peak loads rather than continuous operation.
3Power
If the first battery operates at high current continuously, then the power delivery is maintained, but the safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by having the second battery ready to activate when high current conditions are detected. The battery controller continuously monitors the current draw and preemptively engages the second battery before the first battery is subjected to excessive stress, thereby preventing safety issues before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The second battery acts as an intermediary that absorbs the stress of high current demands, protecting the first battery from direct exposure to harmful current levels. This intermediary element allows the system to deliver high power when needed while maintaining the safety and longevity of the primary battery.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling batteries includes a first current sensor configured to sense a first current flowing from a first battery to an output unit, a first current limiter configured to use a sensing result of the first current sensor to limit an increase of the first current when the first current exceeds a reference current, and a second current activator configured to draw a second current of a second battery to the output unit based on the limiting of the first current limiter.