Charger Settlement Unit Timing for Fee Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chargers face difficulties in determining whether charging is possible until electricity is flowing, leading to potential nonpayment and subsequent refunding of usage fees.
Innovation Solution
A charger with a power supply unit and a settlement unit that settles usage fees after power supply to the secondary battery has started but before charging termination, ensuring fees are paid before halting the charging process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If usage fees are settled before the start of charging, then nonpayment can be avoided, but refunding of usage fees occurs when charging cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by starting the charging process before completing the fee settlement. The charger begins supplying power to the secondary battery immediately upon connection, and the fee settlement is performed subsequently during the charging process. This reverses the conventional order where settlement precedes charging, thereby eliminating the need for refunds while ensuring fees are collected for actual charging services rendered.
2Loss of energy
If fee settlement is performed after charging starts, then refunding is eliminated, but the risk of nonpayment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the control unit that continuously monitors the charging state and manages the settlement process. The system tracks power supply status, charging progress, and settlement completion in real-time, adjusting the charging process based on settlement outcomes. This feedback loop ensures that if settlement fails, the charging can be appropriately managed to minimize losses while maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the charging process based on settlement status. The control unit can modify charging parameters, pause or resume charging, and manage power supply according to the real-time settlement state. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to changing conditions during charging, balancing the risk of nonpayment with the goal of eliminating refunds.
3Loss of energy
If charging is halted due to nonpayment after power supply starts, then unpaid usage can be limited, but charging interruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing charging to proceed to a certain extent before requiring settlement completion. The system permits power supply to start immediately and continues charging during the settlement process, but can halt or limit further charging if settlement is not completed. This partial approach allows some charging to occur (maintaining ease of operation) while still protecting against unlimited unpaid usage through controlled interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention, in a charger for charging a secondary battery, in order to solve the problem that when usage fees are settled before the start of charging to prevent the nonpayment of usage fees, the possibility arises that the usage fees will be refunded, the usage fees of the charger are settled before the charging is completed. The charger (200) has: a power supply unit (210) that supplies electric power to a secondary battery; and a settlement unit (220) that settles the usage fees for using the charger after the supply of electric power to the secondary battery has started but before the termination of charging.