Battery Device Pre-Charging Circuit for Inrush Current Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery devices face damage from inrush current, which can strain charging and discharging switches and load capacitors, leading to reduced lifespan and potential false operations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pre-charging unit between the battery and the charging and discharging switch, which slows down the charging of the load capacitor, and a discharging unit to quickly turn off the switches, along with a driving unit to control these components, effectively filtering high-frequency currents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a load capacitor is directly connected to the battery, then power supply stability is improved, but inrush current damages the charging and discharging switch and load capacitor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidinrush current damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A pre-charging unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery and the load capacitor. This pre-charging unit includes a pre-charging switch and a pre-charging resistor that control the charging process of the load capacitor, preventing direct connection and thereby eliminating inrush current while maintaining power supply stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-charging unit performs preliminary charging action on the load capacitor before the main charging and discharging switch operates. By pre-charging the capacitor through a controlled resistor, the system prepares the load capacitor in advance, avoiding sudden current surges when the main switch closes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a pre-charging unit is added to prevent inrush current, then switch and capacitor protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitch and capacitor protectionVSAvoidcircuit structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-charging switch is integrated with the main charging and discharging switch control system. Both switches are controlled by the same driving unit, merging the control functions and reducing the need for separate control circuits, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-charging resistor serves multiple functions: it limits inrush current during capacitor charging, acts as a current divider during switching transitions, and provides a discharge path for the load capacitor when the pre-charging switch is off. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.

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

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

The solution prevents damage to charging and discharging switches and load capacitors by controlling the inrush current, extending their lifespan and ensuring stable power supply.

Implementation Method 1

a pre-charging unit that is installed between the battery and the charging and discharging switch unit, and that is configured to be charged during discharging of the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

a discharging unit configured to discharge the charge charged in the pre-charging unit during turning off of the charging and discharging switch unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3200312B1Battery device
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3200312B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(b)
  • EP3200312B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a battery device including a battery, a charging and discharging switch unit configured to control charging and discharging of the battery, a pre-charging unit configured to be charged during discharging of the battery, and a discharging unit configured to discharge the charge charged in the pre-charging unit.