Battery Pack Concurrent Charging via Selective Connector Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs require tedious mounting on electronic appliances or charger holders for charging, and users must repeatedly connect and charge multiple packs individually, making concurrent charging inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack structure with a controller that allows direct charging by selectively blocking electrical connections based on charge status, enabling concurrent charging of multiple packs through interconnection without the need for mounting on a charger holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If battery packs are mounted on an electronic appliance body or charger holder for charging, then charging can be performed, but the operation becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into functionally independent connectors: a first connector for direct charger connection and a second connector for inter-battery pack connection. This segmentation allows flexible charging modes without requiring mounting on external devices, eliminating tedious operations and reducing charging time.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack incorporates multiple connectors with different functions within a single device. The first connector enables direct charging, while the second connector enables daisy-chaining multiple packs. This multi-functionality allows users to charge one or multiple packs simultaneously without needing separate mounting solutions, significantly improving operational convenience and reducing time loss.
2Productivity
If multiple battery packs are charged individually by mounting on a charger holder, then each pack can be charged, but concurrent charging of multiple packs is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple battery packs can be connected in series through their second connectors to form a charging chain. This merging approach allows concurrent charging of multiple packs through a single charger connection, dramatically improving charging efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity. The controller coordinates charging across all connected packs, enabling parallel charging without complex user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is pre-configured with both first and second connectors, along with control logic, before use. This preliminary preparation enables the system to automatically manage concurrent charging of multiple packs when connected in sequence, eliminating the need for users to manually mount each pack on a charger holder and significantly improving both productivity and ease of operation.
3Quantity of substance
If battery packs are designed with higher capacity to volume ratio, then performance increases, but power consumption of portable devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack system dynamically adapts its charging configuration based on power requirements. When high power is needed, multiple packs can be connected in parallel through second connectors to deliver higher combined current. When lower power suffices, single-pack charging through the first connector is used. This dynamic flexibility allows the system to optimize between capacity utilization and power consumption based on actual device needs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack according to the present disclosure includes a battery cell including at least one unit cell, a first connector which is electrically connected to the battery cell, and a second connector which is electrically connected to the battery cell and the first connector, the second connector having a corresponding shape to the first connector to be coupled with the first connector. According to the present disclosure, a plurality of battery packs may be concurrently charged, and when needed, a battery capacity may be increased by easily connecting a plurality of battery packs, thereby ensuring a sufficient usage time of an electronic appliance.