Digital Battery Charger Controller with Dynamic Phase Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery chargers lack efficient digital control mechanisms to dynamically adjust charging phases, leading to suboptimal performance and increased hardware costs due to the need for separate controllers for constant current and constant voltage charging.
Innovation Solution
A digital controlled battery charger comprising a power converter, voltage and current sensors, a mode selector, and a digital controller that generates PWM signals to manage the charging process, allowing dynamic adjustment of control loop compensation and shared digital filter configurations for both charging phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate controllers are used for constant current and constant voltage charging, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both constant current and constant voltage control functions into a single digital controller. The digital controller uses a mode selector to switch between charging phases and implements both control modes through shared hardware resources including ADC, digital filter, and PWM generator, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining control precision through software-based phase management.
Solution Approach 2:
The single digital controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it handles both constant current and constant voltage charging modes, provides mode selection based on battery voltage thresholds, and manages the transition between charging phases. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate controllers while preserving precise control capabilities through programmable logic.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate controllers are used for constant current and constant voltage charging, then control stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single digital controller to reduce the total component count and manufacturing cost. By sharing hardware resources such as the ADC, digital filter, and PWM generator between constant current and constant voltage modes, the design lowers bill of materials costs while maintaining stable control through software-based phase management and threshold detection.
3Device complexity
If a single digital controller is used for both charging phases, then device complexity is reduced, but transient response performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mode switching within the single digital controller based on real-time battery voltage monitoring. When the battery voltage reaches a predetermined threshold, the mode selector automatically transitions from constant current to constant voltage mode. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond quickly to changing battery conditions while maintaining simplified hardware architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital controller is pre-programmed with threshold values and control algorithms for both charging modes. The mode selector is pre-configured to switch between constant current and constant voltage control based on predetermined voltage criteria. This preliminary configuration enables rapid transient response without requiring complex real-time decision logic, as the switching conditions and control parameters are established in advance.
4Ease of manufacture
If shared digital filter configuration is used for both charging phases, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a shared digital filter configuration with programmable parameters that can be adjusted based on the charging mode. The same hardware filter is configured with different coefficient sets for constant current and constant voltage modes, allowing optimal performance in each phase. This parameter reconfiguration approach maintains control precision while reducing manufacturing cost through hardware sharing.
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 and adaptive charging by reducing hardware costs and improving transient response, while maintaining stable operation across constant current and constant voltage phases with a single digital controller.
Implementation Method 1
a digital controller 102 that generates a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to control the power converter 104
Data Source
AI summary
A digital controlled battery charger comprises a power converter, a voltage sensor, a current senor, a mode selector and a digital controller. The voltage sensor and current sensor detect the voltage of a rechargeable battery and the current flowing through the rechargeable battery respectively. The mode selector selects a feedback signal from either the output of the voltage sensor or the output of the current sensor. The digital controller receives the selected feedback signal and generates a pulse width modulated signal for the power converter. Additionally, the digital controller is capable of dynamically adjusting its coefficients so that the control loop can maintain a stable system when the battery charger operates in different battery charging phases.