Electronic Device Charging Control via Periodic Wake-Up

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic devices cannot enter a suspend state during battery charging without excessive power consumption, leading to potential battery explosion due to high temperatures and increased manufacturing costs from separate hardware components for monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow an electronic device to enter a suspend mode by generating a wake-up signal after a preset time, using partial structural components to determine the battery state and control charging, thereby minimizing power consumption and avoiding separate hardware arrangements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic device continuously monitors the battery state during charging, then the battery safety is improved, but the power consumption increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring by setting an alarm that generates a wake-up signal after a predetermined time interval. The processor wakes up from suspend mode at these intervals to check battery temperature and charging state, then returns to suspend mode. This periodic action maintains battery safety monitoring while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the electronic device enters suspend mode during charging, then the power consumption is reduced, but the battery monitoring capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbattery monitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent sets an alarm in advance before entering suspend mode. This preliminary action ensures that the processor will automatically wake up at the predetermined time interval to perform battery monitoring, thus maintaining monitoring capability while allowing the device to remain in power-saving suspend mode for extended periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alarm mechanism creates periodic wake-up events that enable the processor to intermittently monitor battery state (temperature and charging status) while mostly remaining in suspend mode. This periodic intervention maintains safety monitoring capability without requiring continuous processor operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If separate hardware components are added for battery monitoring in suspend mode, then the monitoring capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery monitoring capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the existing processor to perform battery monitoring tasks itself by implementing an alarm-based wake-up mechanism. The processor uses its built-in timer/alarm functionality and existing battery management interfaces to monitor temperature and charging state, eliminating the need for separate dedicated monitoring hardware components and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The processor is designed to perform multiple functions: it handles normal device operations, enters suspend mode for power saving, and periodically wakes up to monitor battery state. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated monitoring hardware, reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If the charging continues without suspend mode, then the charging speed is maintained, but the heat generation causes battery explosion risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidbattery explosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The processor periodically wakes up from suspend mode to check battery temperature and charging state. Based on these periodic checks, the system can adjust charging parameters or terminate charging when safety thresholds are exceeded. This periodic monitoring and intervention prevents continuous unmonitored charging that leads to overheating and explosion risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables stable battery charging by reducing power consumption and heat generation, extending battery life without adding separate hardware, while maintaining manufacturing cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the battery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS9941724B2Method and apparatus for controlling charging in electronic device

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method for controlling charging in an electronic device for managing the electronic device, to stably charge a battery is provided. The method includes setting alarm such that a wake up signal is generated after a time elapses when entry into a suspend mode is requested during charging a battery or in a charging stop state, entering the suspend mode, waking-up and determining a state of the battery wake up, and turning-on or -off the battery charging according to the determined state of the battery.