Battery Pack Charger Type Detection and Disconnect Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs face challenges in ensuring full charging when connected to chargers that stop charging before the battery is fully charged, particularly with standard chargers that have predetermined time limits not aligned with the battery's capacity, leading to incomplete charging.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack includes an electronic processor that determines the type of charger, controls the charging circuit to disconnect and reconnect as needed, and manages a disconnect time to ensure full charging by temporarily disconnecting from the charger if it is a standard charger, allowing continued charging beyond the predetermined time limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery pack remains connected to the charger throughout the predetermined time period, then the battery pack can be fully charged with chargers that extend beyond the time limit, but the battery pack will not be fully charged when connected to standard chargers with fixed time limits
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack dynamically adjusts its connection strategy based on charger type detection. The electronic processor identifies whether the charger is a standard type or an extended type, and accordingly determines whether to maintain continuous connection or implement disconnect-reconnect behavior, making the charging process adaptive to different charger characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging parameter of connection duration based on charger type. For standard chargers, the battery pack disconnects before the predetermined time period ends to reset the charging cycle. For extended chargers, the battery pack remains connected throughout the full time period, optimizing charging for each charger type
2Reliability
If the battery pack disconnects and reconnects during charging, then it can overcome charger time limits, but it increases charging control complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack autonomously manages its own charging process by detecting charger type and independently determining the optimal connection strategy. The electronic processor within the battery pack makes decisions about when to disconnect and reconnect, eliminating the need for external control systems and simplifying the overall charging control architecture
Data Source
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AI summary
System and method for charging a battery pack. One system includes a battery pack with at least one battery cell, a memory, and a charging circuit configured to control a charging current from a charger to the battery pack. The battery pack also includes an electronic processor configured to control the charging circuit and to determine a type of charger to which the battery pack is connected. The electronic processor is further configured to determine, based on the type of charger, a disconnect time and to control the charging circuit to allow the charging current to charge the battery pack. The electronic processor is further configured to control the charging circuit to electrically disconnect the battery pack from the charger after the disconnect time elapses and to control the charging circuit to electrically reconnect the battery pack and the charger after disconnecting the battery pack from the charger.