Charging End-Time Prediction Using Dynamic Power Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging technologies inaccurately predict the completion time of battery charging due to variations in power supply output, leading to discrepancies between calculated and actual charging times.

Innovation Solution

A charging device equipped with a controller that periodically acquires information on the power supply's maximum output power and battery capacity to calculate and display an accurate charging end time, adjusting in real-time to ensure precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If charging time is calculated based on minimum power output, then charging time prediction is conservative, but accuracy decreases when power supply output varies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging time prediction accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to power supply output variations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the power value used for charging time calculation based on the actual power supply output. Instead of using a fixed minimum power value, the system acquires real-time maximum output power information from the power supply and uses this dynamic value to recalculate the charging end time, thereby adapting to power supply variations and improving prediction accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by periodically acquiring updated power supply output information and battery capacity status during charging, then recalculating the charging end time based on this feedback. This closed-loop approach allows the system to adjust predictions as actual charging conditions evolve, resolving the contradiction between conservative estimation and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If charging end time is calculated using maximum output power, then prediction accuracy improves, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging end time precisionVSAvoidcontroller complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply device automatically provides its maximum output power information to the charging device through communication interfaces. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex measurement circuits or estimation algorithms in the charging device, as the power supply itself supplies the necessary data, thereby achieving high precision without increasing controller complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses communication protocols as an intermediary to transfer power supply output information between devices. This mediator approach simplifies the charging device's complexity by offloading the information provision task to the power supply and using standardized communication interfaces, rather than implementing complex sensing and calculation circuits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4603321A1Charging device
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4603321A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603321A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4603321A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A charging device (2) presents a time at which charging is finished when a battery (11) is charged with power supplied from a power supply (20). The charging device (2) includes a controller (4). The controller (4) acquires information on a charging target capacity of the battery (11). At predetermined intervals, the controller (4) (i) acquires information on a maximum output power value of the power supply (20) and information on a current capacity of the battery (11), (ii) calculates a charging end time at which the charging target capacity is reached from the maximum output power value and a difference between the charging target capacity and the current capacity, and (iii) outputs the charging end time.