Bidirectional Battery Management System for OS-Integrated Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Battery Management Systems (BMS) in electronic devices operate unidirectionally, limiting their ability to interact with the operating system and adapt to user inputs, application usage patterns, and environmental conditions, which restricts their capability to optimize battery charging and extend battery life effectively.

Innovation Solution

A bidirectional Battery Management System that communicates with the operating system to gather information on functional and operational parameters, user inputs, and environmental conditions, allowing it to generate optimal charging patterns and schedules, extend battery life, and provide user-friendly notifications for charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional unidirectional BMS is used, then the system structure is simple and hardware cost is low, but the battery management capability and adaptability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery management capabilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the BMS with the application processor by integrating the fuel gauge functionality into the application processor. This combination allows the BMS to access system resources and communicate bidirectionally with the OS, enhancing battery management capabilities while reducing hardware complexity through resource sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The application processor is designed to perform multiple functions including both general computing tasks and specialized battery management functions. By making the application processor universal, it can handle diverse workloads while also providing advanced battery management capabilities through integrated fuel gauge functionality.

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

2Duration of action of stationary object

If a conventional unidirectional BMS is used, then the hardware cost is reduced, but the ability to optimize charging and extend battery life is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidcommunication capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements bidirectional communication between the BMS and the OS, enabling the system to receive feedback about device usage patterns, application requirements, and environmental conditions. This feedback loop allows the BMS to dynamically adjust charging strategies, optimize battery performance, and extend battery life based on real-time system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The BMS uses bidirectional communication to obtain advance information about future device usage patterns and application requirements. This preliminary information allows the system to proactively optimize charging schedules and battery management strategies before actual usage occurs, thereby extending battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If bidirectional communication is implemented, then the battery management capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the complexity issue by merging the BMS functionality into the application processor rather than maintaining separate hardware components. This integration enables bidirectional communication and enhanced adaptability while reducing overall system complexity through shared hardware resources and unified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3510688B1Apparatus and method for battery management
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3510688B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3510688B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3510688B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A battery management system (BMS) for an electronic device with bidirectional communication between the BMS and an operating system (OS) of the electronic device for generating a charging pattern of charging the battery of the electronic device according to information received from the operating system.