Battery Pack LED Charge Indication With Granular Light Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rechargeable battery packs provide minimal information about charge states, typically indicating only full or empty, lacking the granularity needed for effective charge management, and existing complex indicators are costly.
Innovation Solution
The use of two or more LEDs of discrete colors or multicolored lighting elements to provide a visual indication of charge level through specific sequences, including steady and varying light outputs, reflecting charge state thresholds, allowing for higher resolution and granularity in charge state representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If simple LED indicators (red or green) are used, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but measurement precision of charge state is insufficient (only full or empty indication)
Solution Approach 1:
The battery charge state is divided into multiple discrete segments or levels (e.g., 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%). Each segment is represented by a specific LED lighting pattern, allowing precise charge state indication through segmented visual feedback rather than a continuous display.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions or aspects of the LED indicator serve different functions: color indicates charge level ranges, while lighting patterns (steady, blinking, pulsing) indicate specific charge states or conditions. This local differentiation enables high information density in a simple display element.
2Loss of information
If LCD displays or complex graphical indicators are used, then measurement precision and information content increase, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential charge state information needed by users and represents it through simplified LED patterns rather than comprehensive graphical displays. This extraction maintains adequate information content while eliminating unnecessary display complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive LED components instead of costly LCD displays or complex graphical interfaces. The LEDs provide sufficient charge state information through clever use of lighting patterns, sacrificing continuous visual detail for cost-effectiveness and simplicity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple LED colors and patterns are used, then measurement precision of charge state increases, but ease of operation and user interpretation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The LED indicator uses periodic lighting patterns (steady on, blinking at different frequencies, pulsing) to represent different charge states. These rhythmic patterns are intuitively distinguishable and easy for users to interpret, providing granular charge information without complicating user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes in LEDs (e.g., green for high charge, yellow for medium, red for low) combined with lighting patterns. These color transitions provide intuitive visual cues that are easily interpreted by users while maintaining high charge state granularity.
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 provides a cost-effective, high-resolution charge state indication that is more informative than traditional methods, enabling users to accurately assess battery charge levels without the need for expensive complex displays.
Implementation Method 1
The output display element may include two or more differently colored lighting elements, operatively coupled to the driver circuit. The lighting elements may be two or more discrete colored lighting elements or one or more multicolored lighting elements
Data Source
AI summary
Battery pack for use with a portable device, including colored LEDs for presenting a high granularity battery charge state, are disclosed. One embodiment includes a red and a green LED, wherein solid and blinking patterns are presented by the LEDs to correspond to a relative battery charge state. Other battery state indications, such as failure states, may also be presented on the colored LEDs.