Charging Controller Early Activation for Cold Battery Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery charging systems degrade charging-discharging performance and cause freezing issues when charging batteries in low temperatures, leading to incomplete charging and operational difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A charging controller that initiates early-stage charging to reach a partial state-of-charge and then continues to full charge before the scheduled use time, utilizing heat generated during charging to maintain optimal battery and connector temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery is charged earlier to reach full state-of-charge before scheduled use time, then the charging-discharging performance is improved, but the battery temperature becomes too low in cold conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging-discharging performanceVSAvoidbattery temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary charging at a reduced rate before the scheduled use time to allow the battery temperature to rise gradually without excessive heat generation, ensuring optimal temperature and performance by the time the battery is needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The charging rate is dynamically adjusted based on temperature feedback - starting at a lower rate when cold and increasing as the battery warms up, optimizing both temperature management and charging efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If charging is performed in low temperature conditions, then the battery is charged, but the charging-discharging performance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging completionVSAvoidcharging-discharging performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the charging parameter (charging rate) based on temperature conditions, using a reduced charging rate in cold conditions to allow temperature increase while still making progress toward full charge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the charging process is extended to reach full charge in cold conditions, then the battery reaches full state-of-charge, but the charging components freeze

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate-of-chargeVSAvoidfreezing of charging components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful cold temperature condition into a beneficial heating effect by using the extended charging process to generate heat that prevents freezing of the charging components and connector

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Enhances battery charging-discharging performance and prevents freezing of charging components, ensuring full charge readiness and usability in cold conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the temperature of the battery has been raised by heat generated during the charging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11664672B2Charging controller

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

Provided is a charging controller that controls a process of charging a battery from an external power source. When an outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the charging controller charges the battery from a time earlier than a scheduled time of use of the battery by a predetermined time until the scheduled time of use. Thus, even when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the temperature of the battery has been raised by heat generated during the charging by the time of use of the battery.