Capacity-Based Multi-Battery Charging to Minimize Voltage Imbalance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with multiple batteries face voltage imbalances during charging, leading to capacity loss and accelerated battery deterioration due to battery cell balancing, which causes continuous charge and discharge cycles.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a power management module, current limiting integrated circuits, and a processor that distributes charging current based on each battery's capacity and adjusts charging modes to minimize voltage differences, thereby reducing battery cell balancing and extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple batteries are charged simultaneously with equal current, then charging speed is improved, but voltage imbalance occurs between batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing charging current differently to each battery based on its individual capacity characteristics. Each battery receives a customized current allocation (first charging current for first battery, second charging current for second battery) rather than uniform current, thereby maintaining voltage balance while preserving fast charging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the charging current parameter dynamically based on battery capacity ratios. The processor calculates capacity ratios and adjusts charging currents accordingly, transforming the charging process from fixed equal-current mode to adaptive variable-current mode, which resolves the voltage imbalance issue while maintaining high charging speed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If battery cell balancing occurs to equalize voltages, then voltage difference is reduced, but capacity loss and battery deterioration accelerate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively distributing charging currents according to capacity ratios before voltage imbalance becomes severe. This preventive approach eliminates the need for corrective battery cell balancing operations, thereby preserving battery capacity and extending battery life while maintaining voltage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of voltage imbalance into a benefit by using capacity ratio-based current distribution. Instead of allowing imbalance to develop and then correcting it through harmful balancing operations, the system uses the capacity differences as the basis for optimized current allocation, turning what would be a problem into a solution that extends battery life.
3Stability of the object's composition
If charging current is distributed based on capacity ratio, then voltage difference is minimized, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the processor continuously monitors battery capacities, calculates capacity ratios, and adjusts charging currents in real-time. This closed-loop control system automatically maintains optimal voltage balance without requiring complex manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between control precision and system complexity.
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 solution effectively minimizes voltage differences between batteries during charging, reducing capacity loss and battery deterioration, and prolonging the lifespan of multiple batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of current limiting integrated circuits (ICs) that limits a maximum intensity of a current flowing into each of the plurality of batteries
Implementation Method 2
set an individual charging current flowing into each of the plurality of batteries in proportion to a total capacity of each of the plurality of batteries
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling charging of a plurality of batteries and an electronic device to which the same is applied are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of batteries arranged in the housing, a power management module that controls the plurality of batteries, a plurality of current limiting ICs that limits a maximum intensity of a current flowing into each of the plurality of batteries, and at least one processor operationally connected to the plurality of batteries, the power management module and the plurality of current limiting ICs. The at least one processor may set a total charging current output from the power management module, set an individual charging current flowing into each of the plurality of batteries in proportion to a total capacity of each of the plurality of batteries, and recalculate the individual charging currents when the total charging current changes.