Buck-Boost Charge Controller for Multi-Cell Battery Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol delivery devices, such as electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn cigarettes, face challenges in providing improved electronics that enhance usability and efficient power management to maintain consistent performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol delivery device incorporates a housing with a heating element, a power source including multiple batteries or battery cells, and charge circuitry with a buck-boost charge controller and protection circuitry to regulate voltage and current, ensuring efficient power management and safety features like overcurrent protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a power source with multiple batteries or battery cells is used, then the duration of action and energy capacity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A buck-boost charge controller is introduced as an intermediary component between the power supply and the multi-cell battery system. This controller manages the charging process across multiple battery cells, balancing voltage and current distribution while protecting against overcharge and overcurrent conditions. The intermediary controller enables the system to handle complex multi-cell battery management without requiring complex external charging infrastructure.
2Reliability
If charge circuitry with voltage and current regulation is implemented, then the reliability and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charge circuitry incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor voltage and current levels during charging. The buck-boost charge controller adjusts charging parameters based on real-time battery state feedback, preventing overcharge conditions and managing heat generation. This feedback-based control ensures reliable and safe charging operation while maintaining manageable circuitry through intelligent control algorithms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a buck-boost charge controller is used to regulate voltage and current, then the adaptability and efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buck-boost charge controller implements dynamic operation, automatically adjusting its mode between buck (step-down) and boost (step-up) conversion based on the relationship between input voltage and battery voltage. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to efficiently charge from various power supply types and conditions without requiring multiple dedicated charging circuits, managing complexity through intelligent mode switching rather than hardware multiplication.
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 configuration enables efficient heating of aerosol precursor compositions, providing a consistent and safe vaping experience by regulating power output and protecting the device from overcurrent conditions, thus enhancing usability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element configured to convert electricity to heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a housing structured to retain an aerosol precursor composition, a heating element configured to convert electricity to heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a power source including one or more batteries or battery cells coupled to and configured to power a load including the heating element, and charge circuitry coupled to and configured to controllably charge the power source. The charge circuitry includes an electrical connector configured to connect the charge circuitry to a power supply from which the power source is chargeable, and a buck-boost charge controller coupled to and between the power source and power supply. The buck-boost charge controller is configured to regulate output voltage and output current from the power supply to the power source, selectively in one of a plurality of modes based on a condition of the power supply.