Portable Battery Pack with Processor Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In rural areas without access to mains electricity, the high cost and intermittency of renewable energy sources, combined with safety concerns and theft risks of battery rental systems, limit access to reliable and safe electrical power for households.

Innovation Solution

A portable battery pack with a processor that controls charging and discharging based on authorization signals from an external server, preventing unauthorized charging and theft, and an activation station that communicates securely with the battery pack to manage charging and discharging, ensuring safe and reliable energy access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If battery rental outlets are established to provide charged batteries, then access to electricity is improved, but theft of batteries increases and safety risks arise from unauthorized charging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to electricityVSAvoidsafety and theft prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An authorization server acts as an intermediary between the battery pack and charging equipment. The server verifies the identity and charging status of battery packs before allowing charging operations, preventing unauthorized charging and theft. The battery pack includes an input configured to receive authorization signals from the server, creating a trusted communication channel that ensures safe and authorized energy distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the processor monitors charging conditions and communicates with the authorization server. The server receives information about the battery pack's state and provides real-time authorization decisions, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to changing conditions and maintains safety throughout the charging process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If renewable energy sources like solar panels are installed, then electricity supply is improved, but the cost of installation and maintenance becomes prohibitively expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectricity supplyVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack system enables self-service through automated authorization and monitoring. The processor and authorization server work together to automatically manage charging operations without requiring human intervention for each charging event. This reduces operational costs and simplifies maintenance, making the system more economically viable for remote areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Illumination intensity

If battery operated lights are used, then lighting quality is improved, but the cost of purchasing batteries becomes unaffordable for many people

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting qualityVSAvoidbattery cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is designed as a universal platform that can serve multiple functions: providing lighting power, charging mobile phones, and supporting various electrical devices. The standardized interface and authorization system allow the same battery pack to benefit multiple users and purposes, maximizing the value obtained from each battery unit and reducing the effective cost per use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3320596B1Portable battery pack
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 MOBILE POWER
  • EP3320596B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3320596B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3320596B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A portable battery pack (100) has an input (124), one or more cells (120) which can store electrical energy, and a processor (132). The input (124) is removably connectable to an activation station (50) for controlling discharging of the portable battery pack (100) when the portable battery pack (100) is subsequently disconnected and remote from the activation station (150). The processor (132) is configured to enable or disable the discharging of the one of more cells (120) based on a discharging authorisation signal received at the input (124) from the activation station (150) when the input (124) is connected to the activation station(150), in order to enable or disable the discharging of the portable battery pack (100) when disconnected and remote from the activation station (150).