Bidirectional Battery Charging System with Capacitor Divider Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery charging systems for mobile devices lack efficient power delivery and balancing across multiple batteries, leading to inefficiencies and increased size and complexity of electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional battery charging system incorporating a capacitor divider circuit with pulse width modulation (PWM) generators, switching transistors, and a flying capacitor, which selectively charges batteries based on voltage thresholds to optimize power delivery and balance charge levels across multiple batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional battery charging systems are used, then charging functionality is provided, but power delivery efficiency is insufficient and component size/complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is divided into multiple independent battery charging channels, each with its own PWM controller and capacitor divider circuit. This segmentation allows each channel to operate independently and efficiently, improving overall charging productivity while keeping individual channel complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor divider circuit serves multiple functions: it provides voltage division for PWM control, enables bidirectional charging capability, and allows a single charging device to charge multiple batteries simultaneously. This multi-functionality improves charging efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity
2Quantity of substance
If multiple batteries are charged simultaneously, then power storage capacity increases, but power balancing and control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the microcontroller monitors the charge levels and voltage states of multiple batteries, adjusting PWM duty cycles dynamically to balance power distribution. This feedback control enables effective management of multiple batteries, maintaining ease of operation while increasing total power storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts charging parameters for each battery based on real-time voltage and charge level measurements. The PWM controllers modify their output dynamically to balance power distribution across multiple batteries, making power balancing control straightforward despite increased capacity
3Reliability
If battery voltage differences are monitored, then charging balance is improved, but voltage threshold detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor divider circuit acts as an intermediary that scales down battery voltages to safe measurement levels for the microcontroller's ADC. This intermediary component enables accurate voltage threshold detection and charging balance monitoring without exposing the control electronics to high voltages, thereby improving reliability while keeping detection complexity manageable
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 system efficiently balances power consumption and charge levels across multiple batteries, reducing the size and complexity of electronic components, thereby enhancing portability and charging efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flying capacitor operatively coupled at a first terminal thereof to a first plurality of the switching transistors, operatively coupled at a second terminal thereof to a second plurality of the switching transistors
Implementation Method 2
a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator operable to selectively charge the battery devices
Data Source
AI summary
Example implementations include a charging device with a capacitor divider circuit including a plurality of battery state inputs operably coupleable to a plurality of battery devices, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator operable to selectively charge the battery devices, a plurality of switching transistors each operatively coupled at a gate terminal thereof to a respective PWM control output of a plurality of PWM control outputs, and a flying capacitor operatively coupled at a first terminal thereof to a first plurality of the switching transistors, operatively coupled at a second terminal thereof to a second plurality of the switching transistors. Example implementations further include a comparator operatively coupled to the capacitor divider circuit and operable to determine whether a difference between voltages associated with the battery devices satisfies a voltage threshold, where the capacitor divider circuit is further operable to, in response to a determination that the difference satisfies the voltage threshold, block charging of one or more of the battery devices.