Battery Sensor Manipulation Circuit for Slave Shutdown

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Solution Overview

Problem

In embedded systems with multiple platforms, the existing power management through a communication bus can lead to issues such as undesired states in slave platforms when the master platform shuts down first, especially due to low battery or hardware events, resulting in inefficiencies and potential system failures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a low power hardware mechanism that automatically manipulates the battery sensor of slave platforms to initiate a controlled shutdown upon detection of a shut down signal from the master platform, using a battery sensor manipulation circuit with resistors and current valves to simulate a low battery condition, ensuring seamless shutdown even when the master platform powers down.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication bus approach is used for power management, then platforms can communicate shutdown commands, but the system becomes slow and power-consuming, and may fail to shut down slave platforms in time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutdown reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the software-based communication bus mechanism with a hardware-based voltage manipulation mechanism. The master platform directly manipulates the battery sensor voltage of slave platforms through hardware circuits, bypassing the need for software communication protocols. This substitution eliminates the delays and power consumption associated with software-based communication while ensuring reliable shutdown of slave platforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If master platform shuts down first due to low battery or hardware events, then power saving is achieved, but slave platforms are left in undesired active states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutdown coordinationVSAvoidsystem state management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the master platform proactively manipulate the battery sensor voltage of slave platforms before the slave platforms naturally detect low battery conditions. This allows the master to force slave platforms into shutdown state in coordination with its own shutdown, preventing them from being left in undesired active states. The hardware mechanism prepares the slave platforms for shutdown in advance, ensuring proper state management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If independent battery sensors are used in each platform, then each platform can autonomously detect low battery, but shutdown timing becomes inconsistent across platforms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous battery detectionVSAvoidshutdown timing consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the battery detection function across multiple platforms by allowing the master platform to control and manipulate the battery sensor readings of slave platforms. Instead of each platform independently detecting battery status, the system consolidates detection authority to the master platform, which can then coordinate shutdown timing across all platforms. This merging ensures consistent shutdown timing while preserving the hardware-based autonomous detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 approach ensures that slave platforms shut down correctly and efficiently, matching their intended behavior without causing side effects, while minimizing power consumption and avoiding the limitations of communication bus-based shutdown methods.

Implementation Method 1

The battery sensor manipulation circuit may comprise a first resistor connected between the power supply battery and the battery sensor. The first resistor has a resistance that is lower than the impedance of the battery sensor.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage manipulation through resistor and current valve: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

The battery sensor manipulation circuit may have a first current valve connected between the battery sensor and a low voltage point such that the current valve pulls the voltage of the battery sensor low upon provision of a manipulation control signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCurrent control to pull voltage low: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS8643375B2Circuit system and method of controlling power management

Publication Date: 2014.02.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A circuit system is disclosed. The system comprises a master circuitry, at least one slave circuitry which has a battery sensor for checking battery status of a power supply battery and a shut down mechanism for controlled shut down upon detection of low battery by the battery sensor, and a battery sensor manipulation circuit controlled by the master circuitry. The battery sensor manipulation circuit is arranged to manipulate sensed battery status for the battery sensor of at least one of the at least one slave circuitry to force the controlled shut down of the at least one of the at least one slave circuitry upon provision of a shut down control signal from the master circuitry. A method of controlling power management of such a circuit system is also disclosed.