Battery Charger Feedback Control for Fast Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chargers for power storage devices face challenges in detecting overvoltage or overcurrent issues during charging, particularly when the electrical connection is disconnected or a short circuit occurs, leading to delayed detection and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A charger with a power regulator, current detector, voltage detector, controller, feedback signal generator, and feedback calculator that switches between constant current and constant voltage control based on battery current and voltage feedback, generating a power feedback signal to manage power output and quickly respond to abnormal states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If feedback control is performed based on charging current during constant current control, then charging current can be maintained constant, but overvoltage caused by disconnection cannot be detected timely
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control function is segmented into two parallel paths: one based on charging current for constant current control, and another based on output voltage for overvoltage detection. This segmentation allows each path to independently monitor its specific parameter without interfering with the other, enabling timely overvoltage detection while maintaining reliable charging control.
Solution Approach 2:
The output voltage detector acts as an intermediary monitoring element that independently detects voltage conditions without disrupting the primary current-based feedback control. This intermediary detection path provides timely overvoltage information to the controller, enabling rapid response to disconnection events while the main control loop continues to maintain constant current charging.
2Reliability
If feedback control is performed based on terminal voltage during constant voltage control, then terminal voltage can be maintained constant, but overcurrent caused by short circuit cannot be detected timely
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system is segmented into two independent monitoring paths: one based on terminal voltage for constant voltage control, and another based on charging current for overcurrent detection. This segmentation enables the voltage control loop to maintain constant terminal voltage while the separate current monitoring path detects short circuit conditions timely, eliminating the detection delay present in single-loop systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging current detector serves as an intermediary monitoring element that independently tracks current conditions during constant voltage control without interfering with the voltage feedback loop. This intermediary detection path provides immediate overcurrent information to the controller, enabling rapid response to short circuit events while the main control loop continues to maintain constant voltage charging.
3Reliability
If control switching determination is performed using only charging current, then constant current control can be maintained, but switch to constant voltage control cannot be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The control switching determination merges both charging current and terminal voltage information into a unified decision-making process. The controller simultaneously monitors both parameters and uses their combined information to determine when to switch between constant current and constant voltage control modes, enabling both stable control during each mode and appropriate switching between modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback control system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both constant current control and constant voltage control using the same controller and detection infrastructure. The system universally monitors both current and voltage parameters, allowing it to adaptively switch between control methods based on charging stage requirements, thereby achieving both control stability and switching capability.
4Reliability
If control switching determination is performed using only terminal voltage, then constant voltage control can be maintained, but switch to constant current control cannot be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The control switching determination merges both terminal voltage and charging current information into a unified decision-making process. The controller simultaneously monitors both parameters and uses their combined information to determine when to switch between constant voltage and constant current control modes, enabling both stable voltage control during CV mode and appropriate switching to CC mode when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback control system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both constant voltage control and constant current control using the same controller and detection infrastructure. The system universally monitors both voltage and current parameters, allowing it to adaptively switch between control methods based on charging stage requirements, thereby achieving both voltage control stability and switching capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A charger includes a power regulator that regulates power supplied from a power supply and outputs the power to a power storage device, a current detector that detects a battery current supplied to the power storage device, a voltage detector that detects a battery voltage, a controller that performs feedback control over the power regulator based on the battery current and the battery voltage, a feedback signal generator that generates, based on the battery current and the battery voltage, a power feedback signal usable for constant current control and constant voltage control, and a feedback calculator that generates, based on a difference between a command value and the power feedback signal, a control signal to control the power regulator.