Charging Device Control Unit with Energy Storage for Standby Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging devices face challenges in reliably detecting and charging highly discharged battery packs, as the residual voltage may not be sufficient to activate the control unit, leading to insecure and unreliable charging.
Innovation Solution
A charging device with a control unit connected to an energy storage device, capable of controlling a separator to switch between conductive and non-conductive modes, ensuring power is only consumed when necessary, and featuring a display for monitoring the state of charge and triggering alarms when thresholds are met, using a mechanical relay or semiconductor switches for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control unit is activated by the residual voltage of a highly discharged battery pack, then the battery pack can be charged, but the residual voltage may not be adequate for reliable activation of the control unit
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage device is pre-charged during normal operation to store sufficient energy. When a highly discharged battery pack is connected, this pre-stored energy enables the control unit to activate reliably even though the battery pack's residual voltage is insufficient, thus resolving the contradiction between needing to charge highly discharged packs and requiring adequate voltage for control unit activation
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the power element remains connected to the input voltage source in standby mode, then the control unit can be continuously powered, but power is consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage device is pre-charged during normal operation before standby mode begins. When standby mode is entered, the separator isolates the power element from the input voltage source, eliminating power consumption. The pre-charged energy storage device ensures the control unit remains powered and ready for immediate operation when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and readiness
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the separator isolates the power element from the input voltage source in standby mode, then power consumption is prevented, but the transition to charging operation may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage device is pre-charged during normal operation before standby mode begins. When a battery pack is connected in standby mode, the control unit can immediately detect it and activate the separator to connect the power element to the input voltage source, because the control unit is already powered by the pre-charged energy storage device. This eliminates detection and activation delays, resolving the contradiction between power consumption prevention and rapid activation
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 secure, reliable, and efficient charging by preventing power consumption in standby mode, allowing easy activation during charging, continuous monitoring of energy storage, and visual or auditory alarms for low state of charge, ensuring sufficient energy for the control unit and enabling rapid battery replacement or charging.
Implementation Method 1
The separator is fashioned for the purpose of producing, in an allocated switching mode, an electrically conductive connection between the power element and the input voltage source, and, in an allocated separating mode, separating this electrically conductive connection
Implementation Method 2
At least for standby power supplying, the control unit is connected to an allocated energy storage device
Data Source
AI summary
In a charging device having a power element for producing a charge voltage for charging a battery pack from an input voltage provided by an input voltage source, the power element and the input voltage source being capable of being connected to one another in electrically conductive fashion via a separator that can be controlled by a control unit, and the separator being fashioned for the purpose of producing, in an allocated switching mode, an electrically conductive connection between the power element and the input voltage source and, in an allocated separating mode, separating this electrically conductive connection, the control unit is connected, at least for standby power supply, to an allocated energy storage device, and is fashioned for the purpose of controlling the separator during the transition from a charge operating mode to a standby operating mode of the charging device, in order to change the separator over from switching mode to separating mode.