Battery Meter Voltage Converter for RF Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-driven consumption meters face challenges in achieving low power consumption while maintaining peak current capacity for radio communication interfaces, leading to poor power efficiency due to the limited peak current capacity of Lithium batteries.
Innovation Solution
A consumption meter design that includes a voltage converter to reduce the battery voltage for the radio communication interface, using a non-linear regulator and a current sensing element to enable or disable the voltage converter based on current consumption, along with an electrical by-pass connector to supply power directly from the battery when not needed, thereby reducing power loss and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a larger battery or multiple batteries are used to provide higher peak current capacity, then the peak current capacity is improved, but the cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into two voltage levels: the battery provides high voltage for low-current operations (flow sensing unit), while the voltage converter provides low voltage for high-current operations (radio communication interface). This segmentation allows the battery to be sized for average power consumption rather than peak power, reducing battery size while maintaining peak current capacity through the voltage conversion mechanism.
2Power
If the battery voltage is used directly to power the radio communication interface, then the peak current capacity is sufficient, but the power efficiency deteriorates due to high current draw
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage parameter is changed from the battery's fixed high voltage to a lower voltage level through the voltage converter. This parameter change allows the radio communication interface to operate at optimal voltage for its power consumption characteristics, reducing current draw and improving power efficiency while the voltage converter manages the transformation efficiently.
3Loss of energy
If a voltage converter is added to reduce battery voltage for the radio communication interface, then the power efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage converter acts as an intermediary component between the battery and the radio communication interface. This mediator transforms the voltage mismatch between the high-voltage battery and the low-voltage radio interface, enabling efficient power transfer while isolating the complexity of voltage conversion from both the battery system and the radio interface design.
4Loss of energy
If the non-linear regulator is continuously enabled to provide voltage conversion, then the power efficiency is maintained, but the power consumption of the regulator itself increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-linear regulator operates periodically rather than continuously, being enabled only during RF transmission periods when high current demand occurs. During non-transmission periods, the regulator remains disabled and the battery directly powers both the flow sensing unit and radio interface. This periodic operation minimizes the regulator's power consumption while maintaining power efficiency during critical high-demand operations.
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 design enhances power efficiency by reducing current drawn during RF transmission, allowing the meter to operate for extended periods with reduced battery size and cost, while maintaining low power consumption and peak current capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage converter connected to the battery so as to convert the battery voltage to a second voltage being lower than the battery voltage
Implementation Method 2
A non-linear regulator will conserve the power (voltage multiplied by current), and thus reduce the current with a factor corresponding to the ratio between input and output voltage of the non-linear regulator
Implementation Method 3
A sensing element arranged to sense a current consumption of the radio communication interface is connected so as to disable the non-linear regulator upon the sensing element sensing a current consumption of the radio communication interface being lower than a predetermined threshold value
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A consumption meter, such as a consumption meter for charging purposes, including a flow sensing unit (FSU), e.g. an ultrasonic flow sensing unit (FSU), a radio communication interface (RCI) arranged to transmit a Radio Frequency signal representing a measured amount of a physical quantity (Q). A battery (B) with battery voltage (VB) supplies power to the flow sensing unit (FSU) and the radio communication interface (RCI). A voltage converter, preferably a non-linear regulator (NR), is connected to the battery so as to convert the battery voltage (VB) to a second voltage (V2) which is lower than the battery voltage (VB). The radio communication interface (RCI) is arranged for at least partly being powered by this lower voltage (V2). Hereby power can be saved and life-time of the battery (B) can be improved, since the typical radio communication interface (RCI) circuits consume less power when operated at lower supply voltages than the typical battery voltage (VB) 3.6 V for a long-life type Lithium battery (B).