Battery Pack Current Modulation for Charging Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic device charging systems suffer from inefficiencies in charging speed and energy storage due to excessive power dissipation and resistance in the power path, which reduces the usable charge capacity and charging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a battery pack with a multi-chip module and protection circuit that includes transistors and a controller for voltage and current management, eliminating redundant components and using protection transistors for current sensing, thereby reducing power path resistance and enhancing charging efficiency by providing charge voltage setpoint information for optimized charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple resistive elements are implemented in the supply path for protection functions, then voltage and current protection are achieved, but power dissipation increases and charging efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protection functions (overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, over-current protection) into a single integrated protection circuit module. This consolidation reduces the number of separate resistive elements in the power path, thereby reducing power dissipation while maintaining comprehensive protection capabilities. The controller within the protection circuit coordinates multiple protection functions using shared sensing circuits and control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuit is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously using a unified architecture. The same sensing circuits and control mechanisms are used for both voltage protection and current protection, as well as for both charging and discharging operations. This multi-functional approach eliminates redundant components and reduces overall power loss in the supply path.
2Reliability
If multiple resistive elements are implemented in the supply path for protection functions, then protection capabilities are enhanced, but charging speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protection functions into a single integrated circuit that uses shared sensing and control resources. This consolidation reduces the total resistance in the charging path compared to having separate protection circuits with individual resistive elements, thereby improving charging speed while maintaining robust protection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuit incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms that monitor voltage and current conditions and dynamically adjust protection thresholds. This allows the system to optimize charging speed by reducing protection-related resistance when conditions are safe, while maintaining high protection capabilities when anomalies are detected.
3Reliability
If multiple resistive elements are implemented in the supply path, then protection coverage is improved, but usable charge capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple protection functions into a single integrated circuit module, reducing the number of resistive elements in the power path. This reduction in series resistance minimizes energy loss during charging and discharging, thereby increasing the usable charge capacity while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage for overcharge, over-discharge, and over-current conditions.
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 configuration results in faster charging, increased usable energy storage, and improved power dissipation, allowing for 18% faster charging from near zero to 50% capacity and 4% more usable charge compared to traditional systems, while maintaining protection for the battery and electronic device.
Implementation Method 1
means for modulating current of the battery between the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal
Implementation Method 2
a controller configured to provide voltage protection of the battery pack, fuel gauge information of the battery and charge current control
Implementation Method 3
both the device electronics 105 and the battery pack 101 can include protection circuits 104, 106 to protect each device from harmful charging conditions such as, but not limited to, charging over-voltage and charging over-current
Data Source
AI summary
In a general aspect, a battery pack can include a battery configured to supply power to a connected device and to receive re-charge power from a charger circuit. The battery pack can further include a current modulating circuit configured to modulate current of the battery between first and second supply terminals of the battery pack. The battery pack can also include a controller configured to provide voltage protection of the battery pack and charge current control of the battery using the current modulating circuit. The controller can be configured, while the battery is being charged, to compare, at the battery pack, a charge voltage setpoint of the battery pack with a desired charging voltage; modify, at the battery pack, the charge voltage setpoint to achieve the desired charging voltage; and provide the modified charge voltage setpoint from the battery pack to a connected device.