Battery Charging Cutoff Using Open-Circuit Voltage Thresholds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fast charging methods for electronic devices often result in overcharging, which shortens the battery's service life, and struggle to balance charging speed with ensuring the battery is fully charged without exceeding safe voltage limits.
Innovation Solution
A charging method that includes determining the open circuit voltage of the battery and applying a constant current until the open circuit voltage reaches a cut-off voltage, which is set below the standard limited charging voltage, ensuring the battery is fully charged without overcharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fast charging methods are used to increase charging speed, then charging time is reduced, but the battery may become overcharged which affects service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring the open circuit voltage of the battery during charging and comparing it against a predetermined threshold voltage. When the open circuit voltage reaches the threshold, the charging process is automatically terminated, preventing overcharging while maintaining fast charging speeds. This closed-loop control ensures both charging efficiency and battery safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charging termination parameter from traditional voltage or current thresholds to open circuit voltage threshold. By measuring the open circuit voltage (which reflects the battery's actual charge state more accurately than terminal voltage under load), the system can precisely determine when the battery is fully charged and stop charging accordingly, preventing overcharging damage while enabling faster charging.
2Productivity
If charging voltage is increased to improve charging speed, then charging time is reduced, but the risk of overcharging and exceeding safe voltage limits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control by continuously monitoring the open circuit voltage during charging and comparing it to a predetermined threshold. When the threshold is reached, charging is automatically stopped, providing real-time protection against exceeding safe voltage limits even when high charging voltages are applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a predetermined threshold voltage before charging begins. This preliminary setting of the safety threshold allows the system to proactively prevent overcharging by stopping charging before dangerous voltage levels are reached, rather than reacting after damage occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging method and a charging device are provided. The charging method is configured to charge a battery. A charging process of the battery includes at least one constant current stage, and the at least one constant current stage includes a first constant current stage. The method includes: determining an open circuit voltage of the battery; and in the first constant current stage, charging the battery with a first current until the open circuit voltage of the battery reaches a first cut-off voltage, the first cut-off voltage being less than or equal to a standard limited charging voltage of the battery.