Battery Gauge Dynamic Capacity Tracking for Real-World Health
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery gas gauges fail to accurately report the real-world capacity and state of health of batteries due to deviations from idealized use case designs, leading to inaccurate information and difficulty in determining when to replace batteries.
Innovation Solution
A device that tracks discharge and charge events using a battery gauge, processors, memory, and storage to determine battery capacity, store relevant data, and provide recommendations for replacement based on capacity degradation, with features to reset charge values and record capacity events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If battery gas gauges use idealized firmware design, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability to real-world use cases deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery gas gauge employs dynamic tracking mechanisms that continuously monitor and adapt to real-world battery usage patterns. The system dynamically adjusts its measurement and reporting based on actual discharge and charge events, moving away from static idealized designs to a living system that evolves with real-world conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on detected usage conditions. By monitoring actual discharge and charge events and comparing them against expected behavior, the gas gauge modifies its measurement parameters and reporting methods to accurately reflect real-world battery performance, thereby resolving the contradiction between precision and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery gas gauges track actual discharge events, then adaptability to real-world use is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery gas gauge integrates multiple functions into a single system that can track discharge events, monitor charge events, determine capacity, and provide recommendations. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into one unified device rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where actual discharge and charge events are continuously monitored, compared against expected behavior, and used to update capacity assessments. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to real-world conditions while maintaining a relatively simple architecture through iterative refinement rather than complex parallel processing.
3Reliability
If battery capacity is tracked over time, then reliability of replacement recommendations is improved, but loss of time for data collection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery gas gauge performs preliminary tracking and analysis of discharge and charge events continuously, building a foundation of reliable data before replacement is needed. By preparing and analyzing data in advance during normal operation, the system ensures reliable recommendations are ready when needed without requiring last-minute intensive data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous tracking of battery events from the moment of manufacture through entire discharge and charge cycles. This continuous action ensures that sufficient data is accumulated over time to provide reliable recommendations, eliminating the need for intermittent or extended data collection periods that would increase time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is disclosed that determines the actual capacity of a battery. The device determines the charge state of the battery and monitors discharge events. Before additional charge is applied, a minimum useful capacity is recorded based on passed charge values recorded by a battery gas gauge during discharge. Before a low voltage shut down, a full capacity is recorded based on passed charge values. The battery capacity information can be used to provide insights on the timing for battery replacement and for improvement in workflows involving the device.