Battery Memory Switch Circuit for Simultaneous Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rechargeable batteries face challenges with fixed voltage thresholds, which are hard-coded and do not accommodate varying battery chemistries, and existing memory devices in batteries do not allow simultaneous access by both the device and charger, leading to potential electrical conflicts and galvanic corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable battery system with a switch circuit that alternately connects a memory device to either the device data contact or the charger data contact based on a switch signal, preventing simultaneous access and avoiding electrical conflicts, and includes dual memory devices for storing static and dynamic battery data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single memory device is used in the rechargeable battery, then the device structure is simple, but both the charger and the device cannot simultaneously access battery data, leading to potential electrical conflicts and galvanic corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory access system into two separate memory devices: a first memory device accessible by the device and a second memory device accessible by the charger. This segmentation eliminates electrical conflicts and galvanic corrosion by providing dedicated access paths for each master, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and access safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a switch circuit as an intermediary component that controls and manages access to the memory devices. The switch circuit receives signals from both the device and charger, and selectively connects them to the appropriate memory device, preventing simultaneous access conflicts while maintaining system reliability.
2Device complexity
If voltage thresholds are hard coded in the device software, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot accommodate varying battery chemistries with different voltage characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hard-coded static voltage thresholds with dynamic, programmable voltage thresholds stored in the second memory device. The charger can read the battery chemistry type from the first memory device and programmatically set appropriate voltage thresholds in the second memory device, enabling adaptation to different battery chemistries while maintaining simple device software structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables voltage threshold parameters to be changed and stored in memory rather than being fixed in software. This allows the system to adjust voltage characteristics based on battery chemistry type, resolving the contradiction between software simplicity and chemistry adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for controlling access to one or more memories in a rechargeable battery includes a switching circuit that connects the memory to a device data contact, and disconnects the memory from a charger data contact, when the rechargeable battery is connected only to a device powered by a battery. The switching circuit, however, connects the memory to the charger data contact and disconnects it from the device data contact. In some embodiments a second memory that contains a subset of the data in the first memory is connected to the device data contact when the first memory is connected to the charger data contact.