Battery Module Overcharge Protection via Dynamic Voltage Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional overcharge protection mechanisms for rechargeable lithium batteries in portable electronic devices only stop charging after overcharge occurs, failing to prevent degradation and potential overheating, burning, or explosion due to frequent overcharging.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with an overcharge protection device that detects battery voltage during charging, stops the process when it reaches an upper limit, and dynamically adjusts the charging cut-off voltage to prevent overcharging by reducing it after each occurrence, ensuring the battery is charged at a lower voltage in subsequent cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional overcharge protection mechanism is used to stop charging when a specific voltage is reached, then charging is halted to avoid overcharge, but the protection only takes effect after overcharge has already occurred, failing to prevent degradation and potential safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by dynamically adjusting the charging cut-off voltage before overcharge occurs. The control unit monitors battery voltage in real-time and proactively reduces the charging cut-off voltage when voltage differences between battery units exceed a threshold, preventing overcharge conditions rather than reacting after they occur. This anticipatory adjustment ensures battery safety by addressing potential overcharge risks before they materialize.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the charging cut-off voltage is dynamically reduced after overcharge occurs, then the service life of the battery is extended, but the charging process is interrupted more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the charging cut-off voltage adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically modifies the charging cut-off voltage based on real-time monitoring of battery voltage differences. When the voltage difference between battery units exceeds a preset threshold, the system automatically reduces the charging cut-off voltage for subsequent charging cycles, adapting the charging parameters to the actual battery state to extend service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback by continuously monitoring battery voltage during charging and using this information to adjust the charging cut-off voltage. The control unit compares the actual battery voltage against the charging cut-off voltage and voltage difference thresholds, then feeds this information back to modify the charging parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the battery operates within safe voltage ranges while maximizing service life.
3Power
If multiple battery units are connected in series to increase voltage and capacity, then the battery provides higher power output, but voltage and capacity differences between individual units become more obvious after several charge-discharge cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing individualized voltage monitoring and differential protection for each battery unit in the series connection. Rather than treating all battery units uniformly, the control unit specifically monitors voltage differences between individual units and applies targeted adjustments to the charging cut-off voltage when discrepancies are detected. This localized approach addresses voltage inconsistency in each unit while maintaining the overall high power output of the series-connected battery pack.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module and an overcharge protecting method are provided. The overcharge protecting method includes following steps: detecting a battery voltage of a rechargeable battery during a charging process; determining whether the battery voltage is larger than or equals to an upper limit voltage; if no, continuously charging the rechargeable battery until the battery voltage reaches a charging cut-off voltage and then the charging process is ended; if yes, stopping the charging process, reducing the value of the charging cut-off voltage and using the reduced charging cut-off voltage as the charging cut-off voltage in the next charging process. In the subsequent charging process, once the overcharge occurs, the value of the charging cut-off voltage is continuously reduced until the overcharge of the rechargeable battery does not occur during the charging process.