Battery Pack Segmentation for Fast Charge Lifespan Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery technologies face a trade-off between long runtime and lifespan, with low/normal charge rate cells providing extended lifespan but slow charging, and high charge rate cells offering quick charging but with reduced lifespan and capacity when high rates are applied.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack incorporating both high charge rate and normal charge rate cell components, allowing users to switch between charging modes via a processor and graphical user interface, enabling quick charging while maintaining an acceptable lifespan by switching back to normal rates as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high charge rate cells are used to enable quick charging, then charging speed is improved, but lifespan and runtime are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple cell components with different charge rate capabilities. The system includes both high charge rate cell components (capable of exceeding 1C) and normal charge rate cell components (capable of 1C or less), allowing the charging system to selectively charge different cell types at different rates to optimize both speed and lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts the charge rate applied to different cell components based on real-time conditions and user preferences. The processor can switch between charging modes (normal rate mode and high rate mode) and individually control the charge rate for each cell component, making the system adaptable rather than static
2Reliability
If normal charge rate cells are used to extend lifespan, then battery lifespan is improved, but charging speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple cell components with different charge rate capabilities. The system includes both high charge rate cell components (capable of exceeding 1C) and normal charge rate cell components (capable of 1C or less), allowing the charging system to selectively charge different cell types at different rates to optimize both speed and lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts the charge rate applied to different cell components based on real-time conditions and user preferences. The processor can switch between charging modes (normal rate mode and high rate mode) and individually control the charge rate for each cell component, making the system adaptable rather than static
3Speed
If high charge rate is applied to normal charge rate cells, then charging speed is improved, but capacity retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different cell components within the same battery pack are assigned different charge rate characteristics. High charge rate cell components are specifically designed to accept high charge rates without significant capacity loss, while normal charge rate cell components are optimized for capacity retention at lower rates. This local differentiation allows the system to apply high charge rates to appropriate cells without compromising overall capacity retention
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment provides an apparatus, including: apparatus components; a battery pack comprising a high charge rate cell component, the battery pack supplying power to one or more of the apparatus components; a processor; and a memory device accessible to the processor and storing code executable by the processor to: apply a normal rate of charge to a cell component of the battery pack; accept user input to switch the normal rate of charge to a second rate of charge which is higher than the normal rate of charge; and apply the second rate of charge to the high charge rate cell component based on the user input. Other aspects are described and claimed.