Charge Pump Voltage Control for Battery Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charging technologies, such as those used in hearing aids, risk applying over-voltage or over-current to batteries due to uncontrolled voltage stepping down by charge pump circuits, which can lead to battery damage.
Innovation Solution
A circuit device with a charge pump circuit that steps down battery voltage and includes a control portion to stop the charge pump operation when the output voltage exceeds a certain threshold relative to the battery voltage, preventing over-voltage or over-current application to the battery, and includes a detection circuit to activate a signal for stopping the charge pump operation when the threshold is exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the charge pump circuit steps down the battery voltage to supply power to the power supply target, then the power supply target can operate at the required voltage level, but uncontrolled voltage application may cause over-voltage or over-current to the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion continuously monitors the output voltage of the charge pump circuit and compares it with the battery voltage. When the output voltage exceeds the threshold (VBAT×m/n), the control portion automatically stops the charge pump operation, creating a feedback control mechanism that prevents over-voltage and over-current conditions while enabling safe power supply operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion is configured to stop the charge pump operation in advance when the output voltage approaches the dangerous threshold level. This preliminary action prevents the harmful condition from occurring in the first place, rather than reacting after damage has occurred
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
Effectively prevents over-voltage or over-current from being applied to the battery, protecting it from damage and ensuring safe charging operations.
Implementation Method 1
a charge pump circuit that steps down a battery voltage VBAT of the battery to a voltage that is m/n (n is an integer of one or more, m is an integer of one or more and (n−1) or less) times the battery voltage VBAT
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit device includes a power supply portion that supplies power from a battery to a power supply target, and a control portion that controls the power supply portion. The power supply portion includes a charge pump circuit that steps down a battery voltage VBAT of the battery to a voltage that is m/n times the battery voltage VBAT, and supplies the stepped down voltage to the power supply target from a terminal (n is an integer of one or more, m is an integer of one or more and (n−1) or less). The control portion stops a charge pump operation of the charge pump circuit when a voltage VOUT′ of the terminal satisfies the expression VOUT′>VBAT×m/n.