Bidirectional Converter Power Balancing for Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems in battery-driven electronic devices often lead to imbalanced battery power levels, causing premature device shutdown due to uneven power consumption across different subsystems, and lack effective strategies for optimizing battery life through power transfer between batteries.
Innovation Solution
A controller and bidirectional voltage converter system that monitors and manages power transfer between two batteries based on predetermined conditions, such as power level differences and reference values, to extend device operation by transferring power from one battery to another when necessary, ensuring continued functionality of critical subsystems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is not transferred between batteries, then device complexity remains low, but device shutdown occurs prematurely due to imbalanced power levels
Solution Approach 1:
A power management circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second batteries. This circuit includes a controller that monitors battery power levels and a bidirectional converter that enables controlled power transfer. The intermediary power management circuit resolves the contradiction by adding necessary complexity only where needed to prevent premature shutdown, while maintaining simple operation when batteries are balanced.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management circuit continuously monitors the power levels of both batteries and uses this feedback to determine when power transfer is needed. The controller compares real-time battery states and automatically initiates power transfer when imbalance is detected, ensuring reliable operation without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated system architecture.
2Duration of action of moving object
If power transfer is implemented between batteries, then battery life is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system operates autonomously by automatically monitoring battery levels and initiating power transfer when imbalance is detected. The controller continuously evaluates battery states and manages power distribution without external intervention, extending battery life through self-regulated power balancing while keeping the user experience simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters based on battery state. When power imbalance is detected, the bidirectional converter adjusts power flow direction and magnitude to balance the batteries. This dynamic parameter adjustment extends operational life while maintaining manageable system complexity through algorithmic control rather than hardware complexity.
3Loss of energy
If power is transferred based on strict power level thresholds, then power distribution is optimized, but loss of time occurs during transfer operations
Solution Approach 1:
The power management circuit transfers power in controlled portions rather than attempting to equalize batteries completely. The controller monitors progress during transfer and can terminate when sufficient balance is achieved, avoiding excessive time consumption while still achieving meaningful power redistribution. This partial action approach optimizes the balance between transfer efficiency and time investment.
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 solution effectively extends the operational life of battery-driven devices by balancing power distribution between batteries, preventing premature shutdown and maintaining functionality of essential subsystems by transferring power from one battery to another when power levels become critically low.
Implementation Method 1
A power management apparatus with a controller and bidirectional voltage converter that transfers power between two batteries based on predetermined conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A power manager includes a converter and a controller. The converter is coupled between first and second energy storage devices, and the controller controls transfer of power between the first and second energy storage devices through the converter. The first energy storage device is to supply power to a first power subsystem of an electronic device, and the second energy storage device is to supply power to a second power subsystem of the electronic device. The subsystem may have different operating voltage requirements. When a level of the second battery falls below a first reference value, the controller controls the transfer of power from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device. A transfer of power in a reverse direction may occur when a level of the first energy storage device falls below a second reference value.