Multi-Interface Charger Switching to Prevent Battery Short Circuits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chargers lack operational reliability and are not cost-effective due to the risk of short circuits between multiple electrical energy stores being charged simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A charger design with anti-serial field-effect transistors and a control unit to ensure only one energy store is connected at a time, combined with a test device to monitor and ensure correct transistor function, reducing the need for additional safety switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple electrical interfaces charge multiple energy stores simultaneously, then charging productivity increases, but the risk of short circuits increases and operational reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the electrical interfaces through a control unit that actively manages the switching state of field-effect transistors. The system dynamically adjusts which interfaces are active based on real-time monitoring, allowing multiple interfaces to be available while ensuring only one is actively charging at any moment. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling high productivity potential while maintaining reliability through active management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a test device that continuously monitors the switching function of field-effect transistors and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism detects potential short circuit conditions and triggers corrective actions, such as deactivating affected interfaces. The feedback loop ensures that productivity is maintained at the highest safe level while reliability is preserved through continuous monitoring and automatic correction of faults.
2Reliability
If additional safety switches are added to prevent short circuits, then operational reliability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service safety mechanism where the test device automatically detects switching faults in the field-effect transistors and the control unit autonomously responds by deactivating affected interfaces. This self-monitoring and self-correcting system eliminates the need for additional manual safety switches or complex interlocking mechanisms. The system serves itself by detecting and correcting its own potential failures, maintaining reliability without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the existing field-effect transistors by implementing bidirectional monitoring of their switching functions. Instead of adding more physical switches, the system monitors the electrical parameters (switching states) of the existing transistors and adjusts the operational parameters (interface activation states) accordingly. This parameter-based approach maintains reliability while avoiding the complexity of additional hardware components.
3Reliability
If redundant safety switches are implemented, then short circuit protection improves, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The test device and control unit form a self-service safety system that automatically detects and responds to potential short circuit conditions. The test device monitors the switching function of field-effect transistors, and when a fault is detected, the control unit autonomously deactivates the affected interface. This self-correcting mechanism provides redundant safety protection without requiring additional physical safety switches, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the safety function from traditional redundant mechanical or electrical switches and relocates it to the control unit's software-based management system. By taking out the safety function from hardware redundancy and implementing it through intelligent control and monitoring, the system achieves equivalent or superior protection while reducing component count and manufacturing complexity. The safety function is extracted from the physical domain and implemented in the control domain.
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
Ensures operational reliability by preventing short circuits and maintaining cost-effectiveness through continuous monitoring and correction of transistor faults, eliminating the need for redundant safety switches.
Implementation Method 1
A respective electrical interface further includes exactly two field-effect transistors, which are in anti-serial fashion connected between the first connection terminal and the common charge line
Implementation Method 2
The test device has a voltage measuring device which is designed to measure a voltage at a connection node of the two field-effect transistors
Data Source
AI summary
A charger has a plurality of electrical interfaces, wherein a respective electrical interface is able to be coupled to an electrical energy store to be charged, in order to charge the electrical energy store to be charged. A common charge line of the charger carries a charging potential, in particular a positive charging potential, during the charging operation of the charger. A respective electrical interface includes: a first connection terminal which, when used as intended, is to be electrically connected to a corresponding connection terminal of an electrical energy store to be charged; two field-effect transistors which are looped-in in anti-serial fashion between the first connection terminal and the common charge line; and at least one control unit which is designed to drive the two field-effect transistors of a respective electrical interface such that, at any one time, the first connection terminal of only a single electrical interface is electrically connected to the common charge line via its two field-effect transistors.