Battery Pre-Charging Circuit with Low-Voltage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery protection circuits fail to pre-charge batteries when the battery voltage is too low, as the controller is not operable and cannot sink enough current to switch on the pre-charging switch.
Innovation Solution
A battery pre-charging circuit is introduced, comprising a pre-charging path, a pre-charging switch, and a low-voltage pre-charging circuit that can switch on the pre-charging switch when the battery voltage is below a first battery voltage level, ensuring pre-charging can occur even when the voltage is low or zero.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a typical battery protection circuit uses a controller to control the pre-charging switch, then the pre-charging function can be controlled, but the circuit cannot pre-charge when battery voltage is too low or zero because the controller is not operable
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-charging circuit is segmented into two independent parts: a low-voltage pre-charging circuit that operates when battery voltage is below a first threshold, and a normal pre-charging circuit that operates when voltage is above the threshold. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized for its specific voltage range, resolving the contradiction between reliability and voltage range adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (such as a voltage detection circuit or threshold comparison mechanism) that determines whether the battery voltage is above or below the first voltage level and activates the appropriate pre-charging circuit accordingly. This intermediary enables the system to adapt to different voltage conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliable pre-charging control and adaptability to low voltage conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the controller sinks current through the PCHG pin to switch on the pre-charging switch, then pre-charging can be controlled, but the controller cannot sink enough current when battery voltage is too low
Solution Approach 1:
The control function is segmented between the low-voltage pre-charging circuit and the normal pre-charging circuit. The low-voltage circuit uses a different control mechanism that does not rely on the controller sinking current through the PCHG pin, thereby maintaining ease of operation while overcoming the power limitation at low voltages.
Solution Approach 2:
The low-voltage pre-charging circuit is designed to operate autonomously without requiring the controller to sink current. The circuit uses the available low voltage directly to activate the pre-charging switch, making the system self-sufficient in low-voltage conditions and resolving the contradiction between ease of control and current sinking capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pre-charging circuit includes a pre-charging path, a pre-charging switch and a low-voltage pre-charging circuit. The pre-charging path is coupled between a charger and a battery for providing a pre-charging current from the charger to the battery. The pre-charging switch is coupled to the pre-charging path for conducting along the pre-charging path. The low-voltage pre-charging circuit is coupled to the pre-charging switch for controlling the pre-charging switch. The low-voltage pre-charging circuit is configured to switch on the pre-charging switch when the battery voltage is below a first battery voltage level.