Charging Member Network for Battery Status Ranking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing battery charge state and health indicators in groups of devices require complex and expensive infrastructure, making it difficult to provide clear indications of battery status and specific characteristics like RFID features amidst blinking LEDs during charging.
Innovation Solution
A system where each charging member communicates via a network to transmit and receive information, using filters to rank and indicate the status of devices based on predefined criteria, such as charge state, health, and features, without the need for a centralized server, utilizing a docking connection, processor, transceiver, and ranking component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If each device sends status information to a centralized server via wireless connection, then device status information can be collected and processed, but the infrastructure becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the server infrastructure from the system, removing the centralized information collection point. Instead of devices communicating with a server, each device independently receives and processes status information from other devices through direct peer-to-peer communication via transceivers, eliminating the need for complex server hardware and software
Solution Approach 2:
Each device performs self-service by independently collecting, processing, and ranking status information from other devices in the group. The ranking component within each device autonomously determines which devices to indicate without external server intervention, enabling the system to function without complicated centralized infrastructure
2Loss of information
If LED indicators are used to show charge state, then visual indication is provided, but the indication becomes difficult to see amidst blinking LEDs from other devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs different LED colors to indicate different device characteristics and states. Specifically, different colors represent devices with the best state of health, newest batteries, least used batteries, and other ranked positions. This color-coding system allows users to easily distinguish between different device statuses and characteristics even when multiple LEDs are blinking simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic blinking patterns combined with color differentiation to indicate device status. Rather than relying solely on continuous or uniform blinking, the periodic nature of the LED signals combined with color variation creates distinct visual patterns that are easier to detect and differentiate among multiple devices
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple device characteristics need to be indicated, then comprehensive information is provided, but the indication system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal indication system where the same LED components serve multiple functions. The LEDs indicate both charge state and various device characteristics (state of health, battery age, usage patterns) by varying color and blinking patterns. The ranking component universally applies to different device attributes, allowing a single indication mechanism to handle diverse information requirements without adding complexity
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 efficient energy management and clear indication of device status within a group, reducing infrastructure costs and improving visibility of battery health and features through direct communication and ranking mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
each device in the group that is being charged may include a light emitting diode (LED) that displays a blinking pattern
Data Source
AI summary
Each charging member in a group identifies a docking connection. Each charging member, responsive to identifying the docking connection, transmits information to other charging members in the group and receives information transmitted from another charging member in the group. Each charging member generates a list using the information transmitted to the group and received from the group. Each charging member also includes a ranking component for filtering, sorting, and ranking entries in the list according to a predefined selection filter and/or ranking filter. Each entry in the list is associated with a charging member with a docking connection and in the group. Each charging member determines based on a predefined indication filter that an entry in the list that is associated with the charging member is ranked at a predefined position in the list and provides an indication.