Power Regulating Circuit for Lithium Battery Charge-State Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium batteries are prone to overcharge and over-discharge, which can lead to reduced lifespan, swelling, deformation, and even explosion, and existing solutions fail to effectively prevent these issues without altering user habits.

Innovation Solution

A power regulating circuit that detects charge current and adjusts power transmission states based on trickle charge, constant voltage, and constant current ranges to prevent overcharge and over-discharge, using a detecting module, control module, and actuating module to manage power output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the power line continuously provides electrical power to the laptop even after the lithium battery is fully charged, then the user convenience is improved, but the lithium battery lifetime is reduced due to overcharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidlithium battery lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power regulating circuit continuously monitors the charge current and provides feedback to the control module. When the detected charge current falls within the TC range, indicating the battery is fully charged, the control module automatically adjusts the power regulating circuit to the power off state, preventing overcharge while allowing continuous connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the battery charge state through the detecting module and autonomously adjusting the power transmission state through the control module, eliminating the need for user intervention to prevent overcharge while maintaining continuous power connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the lithium battery is removed timely to avoid overcharge, then the lithium battery lifetime is improved, but the laptop may shut down abnormally due to power outage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium battery lifetimeVSAvoidabnormal shutdown risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power regulating circuit takes preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting when the battery is fully charged and automatically switching to the power off state before overcharge can occur, eliminating the need for battery removal while preventing overcharge damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The power regulating circuit acts as an intermediary between the power source and the lithium battery, intelligently controlling the power transmission state based on battery charge level, thereby preventing both overcharge and power outage issues that would result from battery removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a power regulating circuit with continuous monitoring is implemented, then the lithium battery protection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium battery protectionVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detecting module continuously monitors the charge current and the control module automatically adjusts the power transmission state based on the detected values, creating a self-service system that provides comprehensive battery protection without requiring complex external control mechanisms or user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4181345B1Power regulating circuit, charging device and power supply mode setting method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 GIGA BYTE TECH CO LTD
  • EP4181345B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4181345B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4181345B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A power supply mode setting method is provided, with said method including: in a detection time period, controlling the power regulating circuit (100, 34) in a power transmission state, and detecting a charge current to obtain a detected value; determining in which one of a TC range, a CV range and a CC range the detected value locates; adjusting the power regulating circuit (100, 34) to a power off state for a first duration when the detected value is in the TC range; keeping the power regulating circuit (100, 34) in the power transmission state for a second duration when the detected value is in the CV range; and keeping the power regulating circuit (100, 34) in the power transmission state for a third duration when the detected value is in the CC range. A power regulating circuit (100, 34) and a charging device (300) adapting said method are also provided.