Dual-Battery Power Management Circuit for Charging Priority Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management circuits for wearable devices with dual batteries fail to ensure normal charging, particularly when the host and wrist strap are separated, as they cannot prioritize charging between the main and secondary batteries efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The power management circuit includes a control circuit with switch modules and a comparator that determines the charging priority based on the availability of electricity in the secondary battery, ensuring that the main battery is charged when the secondary battery is depleted, and reserving energy for the secondary battery when separated from the host.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the voltage conversion circuit charges both the main battery and the secondary battery simultaneously when the host is in an active state, then the battery capacity is improved, but the charging control complexity increases and the main battery cannot be prioritized for charging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcharging control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The charging circuit is segmented into two independent charging paths: one path charges the main battery when the host is active, and another path charges the secondary battery when the host is inactive. The control circuit segments the charging process based on host state, allowing independent control of each battery's charging without complex coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The charging configuration dynamically adapts based on the host's active or inactive state. When the host is active, the main battery is charged; when inactive, the secondary battery is charged. This dynamic switching simplifies control logic while maintaining optimal battery capacity management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the switch SW is controlled to connect the secondary battery to both the voltage conversion circuit and the main battery when the host is active, then the energy utilization is improved, but the charging priority control becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy utilizationVSAvoidcharging priority control
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by charging the main battery first when the host is active, ensuring the primary power source is replenished before considering secondary battery charging. This preliminary priority control ensures reliable power supply hierarchy while maintaining good energy utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit acts as an intermediary that manages the interaction between the voltage conversion circuit, main battery, and secondary battery. It mediates the charging process by enabling or disabling specific charging paths based on host state, ensuring both energy efficiency and charging priority control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the power management circuit cannot distinguish between active and inactive states of the host, then the circuit simplicity is maintained, but the charging efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit simplicityVSAvoidcharging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management circuit automatically detects the host's active or inactive state and self-adjusts the charging configuration without external intervention. The circuit monitors host state signals and autonomously switches between charging modes, maintaining simplicity while achieving high charging efficiency through state-aware control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3337003B1Power management circuit, intelligent terminal and charging method
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3337003B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3337003B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3337003B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power management circuit, an intelligent terminal, and a charging method. The power management circuit includes a control circuit (100), a first switch module (200), a second switch module (300), and a voltage conversion circuit (400). A first input end (II) of the control circuit receives a main battery activeness detection signal (Dect_active), a first output end (01) is connected to an enabling end (EN2) of the second switch module, and a second output end (O2) is connected to an enabling end (EN1) of the first switch module. The first switch module is connected to the voltage conversion circuit, a secondary battery, and a main battery. The second switch module is connected to the voltage conversion circuit and an energy recovery component. According to the received main battery activeness detection signal, the control circuit controls the first switch module to be closed or opened, and controls the second switch module not to input a signal, to input a valid signal, or to input an invalid signal, so that a channel used by the energy recovery component to charge the secondary battery is connected, or a channel used by the secondary battery or the energy recovery component to charge the main battery is connected. In this way, normal charging of dual batteries can be ensured.