Battery Pack Charging Current Control for Temperature Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs face challenges in maintaining optimal temperature during charging, leading to over-temperature conditions that can reduce battery life, cause safety risks, and result in time-consuming interruptions in charging.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack with a temperature sensor and controller that adjusts the maximum charging current based on an inverse functional relationship with temperature, reducing current as temperature increases and halting charging if it exceeds a threshold to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high charging current is used to charge the battery pack, then charging speed is improved, but temperature increases causing over-temperature conditions that reduce battery life and create safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic current adjustment by continuously monitoring battery temperature and modifying charging current in real-time. The controller reduces current when temperature approaches thresholds and increases it when temperature is acceptable, creating a dynamic charging process that adapts to thermal conditions rather than using fixed current levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control through temperature sensors that continuously measure battery temperature and feed this information back to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to adjust charging current, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents over-temperature conditions while maximizing charging speed within safe thermal limits
2Reliability
If charging current is reduced to prevent over-temperature conditions, then battery safety is improved, but charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging current is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature monitoring. When temperature is within acceptable ranges, higher current is permitted to maintain fast charging. When temperature approaches thresholds, current is reduced to prevent overheating. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the balance between charging speed and thermal safety throughout the charging process
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging current parameter in response to temperature parameter changes. By establishing temperature thresholds and corresponding current limits, the system automatically adjusts electrical parameters to maintain safe operating conditions while minimizing charging time extensions
3Reliability
If temperature monitoring and current adjustment control are implemented, then over-temperature prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control where temperature sensors provide continuous thermal information to a controller that automatically adjusts charging current. This closed-loop system prevents over-temperature conditions through automatic regulation rather than manual intervention or complex mechanical systems, achieving reliable thermal management with relatively simple electronic control components
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 solution effectively prevents over-temperature conditions, reducing charge time and extending battery life by maintaining the battery within safe temperature limits and minimizing interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one temperature sensor configured to obtain a temperature measurement indicative of a temperature of at least cell of the one or more cells
Implementation Method 2
reducing the maximum charging current comprises reducing the maximum charging current based at least in part on an inverse functional relationship between the temperature measurement and the maximum charging current
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack can include one or more cells. The battery pack can include at least one temperature sensor configured to obtain a temperature measurement indicative of a temperature of at least cell of the one or more cells. The battery pack can include a controller, the controller configured to be placed in signal communication with a battery charger. The controller can be configured to perform operations. The operations can include obtaining the temperature measurement from the at least one temperature sensor. The operations can include determining, based at least in part on the temperature measurement, that the temperature of the at least one cell is between a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold. The operations can include, in response to determining that the temperature of the at least one cell is between the lower temperature threshold and the upper temperature threshold, reducing a maximum charging current, wherein reducing the maximum charging current comprises reducing the maximum charging current based at least in part on an inverse functional relationship between the temperature measurement and the maximum charging current. The operations can include controlling the battery charger based at least in part on the maximum charging current to charge the one or more cells.