Current-Sensed Battery Converter Control for Uneven Pack Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computing devices with multiple battery power sources, disparate charge characteristics lead to uneven charging and discharging rates, causing battery degradation, reduced performance, and premature failure of batteries, especially when trying to balance charge between packs with different capacities and voltage levels.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a parallel battery charge/discharge management circuitry that senses currents from each battery source, adjusts a control voltage for a voltage converter circuit, and balances the charge current between battery packs to ensure balanced power supply to the system load, using a voltage converter to modify the charge current from one battery pack to another based on the sensed current and voltage levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If multiple battery power sources with different capacities and voltage levels are used to increase run-time capacity, then the total energy storage and operational duration are improved, but the charge/discharge rates become uneven causing battery degradation and premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The charge management circuit continuously monitors the state of charge and electrical parameters of each battery pack, using feedback control to dynamically adjust charge/discharge rates. This ensures that batteries with different capacities and voltage levels are balanced during charging, preventing overcharging or excessive discharge that would cause degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters such as current magnitude and voltage levels based on the specific characteristics of each battery pack. By modifying these parameters in real-time, the circuit optimizes charge distribution to accommodate disparate battery capacities and voltage levels while maintaining safe operating conditions.
2Quantity of substance
If batteries with different capacities are charged in parallel to increase power storage, then the total charge capacity is improved, but the charge distribution becomes uneven leading to some batteries being overcharged while others are undercharged
Solution Approach 1:
The charge management circuit uses feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor the charge state of each battery pack and adjust charging current distribution accordingly. This ensures equitable charge allocation across batteries with different capacities, maintaining precise charge balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different charging characteristics to different battery packs based on their individual capacities and states. Each battery receives a customized charging profile rather than a uniform charging rate, ensuring optimal charge distribution across the parallel configuration.
3Productivity
If voltage levels between battery packs are not balanced during charge, then charging efficiency is improved for high-voltage batteries, but low-voltage batteries may experience reverse discharge or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The charge management circuit monitors voltage levels across all battery packs and uses feedback control to prevent voltage imbalances. When voltage differences exceed safe thresholds, the circuit automatically adjusts or isolates charging paths to prevent reverse discharge or damage to low-voltage batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge management circuit acts as an intermediary between battery packs with different voltage levels, mediating the charge flow to ensure safe voltage transitions. This intermediary control prevents direct harmful interactions between batteries with disparate voltage characteristics.
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
This approach extends battery lifetimes, reduces the risk of brown-outs, and enhances run-time capacity by balancing the discharge and charge rates of disparate battery packs, preventing uneven wear and tear.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting a voltage converter circuit based on the sensed first current, an input of the voltage converter circuit being coupled to the second battery power source, an output of the voltage converter circuit being electrically coupled to the system load
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology provides a method of balancing power supplied to a system load by a first battery power source and a second battery power source. The method includes sensing a first current supplied by or supplied to the first battery source. The method further includes changing a control voltage for a voltage converter circuit based on the sensed first current, an input of the voltage converter circuit being coupled to the second battery power source, an output of the voltage converter circuit being electrically coupled to the system load. The method still further includes adjusting the voltage converter circuit to modify a charge current supplied from the second battery power source to the first battery power source based on the control voltage.