Per-Battery Fuel Gauging for Temperature-Accurate Residual Capacity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic devices with multiple batteries, temperature variations across batteries can lead to inaccurate calculation of battery information such as residual capacity and state-of-charging, due to differing operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device is equipped with multiple batteries, each paired with a fuel gauge and a thermistor. The processor obtains state information from the fuel gauges and thermistors to determine capacity ratios and calculate the residual capacity of each battery, providing accurate battery life predictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple batteries are disposed at intervals to support enlarged display and increased functionality, then the display area and functionality are improved, but the temperature varies across batteries leading to inaccurate calculation of battery information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery monitoring system into separate fuel gauges for each battery, allowing individual monitoring of each battery's state. This segmentation enables accurate tracking of each battery's residual capacity and state-of-charging despite temperature variations, resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining the multi-battery configuration needed for enlarged display area.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple batteries are used to support enlarged display, then the display area is improved, but the operational conditions differ due to temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing individual fuel gauges and thermistors for each battery, allowing each battery to be monitored and managed according to its specific local conditions (temperature, capacity, state-of-charging). This enables the system to maintain operational consistency despite temperature variations across different battery locations, while still supporting the enlarged display area through multiple batteries.
3Measurement precision
If fuel gauges are implemented for each battery to monitor state, then the battery information accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal fuel gauge circuits that can be replicated for each battery, where each fuel gauge performs multiple functions: monitoring voltage, current, temperature, residual capacity, and state-of-charging. This multi-functional approach improves battery information accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the same standardized circuit design is used across all batteries rather than requiring different monitoring solutions for each.
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 solution allows for accurate monitoring and calculation of battery capacity and deterioration, enabling more precise prediction of remaining battery life and timely notification for battery replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel gauge and a thermistor are provided for each battery. The thermistor measures the temperature of each battery
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and method are disclosed, including a first and second battery, a first and second fuel gauge, and a processor. The processor implements the method, including: determining capacity ratios of the first and second batteries based at least on absolute capacities of the first and second batteries, as identified via the first and second fuel gauges, respectively, calculating a residual capacity of the first battery and a residual capacity of the second battery based on at least one of the determined capacity ratios and the obtained states of the first and second battery, respectively, and outputting the calculated residual capacity of the first battery and the calculated residual capacity of the second battery.