Dual-Voltage Battery Pack with Controller for Efficient Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs that provide a single power source struggle to efficiently manage and charge batteries with different voltage requirements, leading to power loss and inefficient operation in devices needing multiple power sources, as they often require voltage conversion and cannot collectively manage the charge states of multiple batteries.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack comprising a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, a charging circuit, and a controller that monitors and controls the charge states of both batteries to optimize charging, allowing the low voltage battery to be charged by the high voltage battery when necessary, and interrupting charging when the low voltage battery is fully charged, thereby preventing excessive differences in charge states and efficiently utilizing both batteries as power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single battery providing a single power source is used, then the system configuration is simple, but power is lost by voltage conversion circuits when different voltages are required
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple independent battery units (first battery and second battery) that can operate independently or together. Each battery can be charged separately through individual charging circuits, allowing the system to avoid voltage conversion losses by directly using the appropriate battery voltage without requiring complex voltage conversion circuits.
2Device complexity
If at least two batteries used as different power sources are not collectively managed, then the system configuration is simple, but the charge state of each battery may change which influences operation of systems
Solution Approach 1:
The battery management system incorporates feedback mechanisms through monitoring circuits that continuously detect the charge states of both batteries. The controller receives this feedback information and automatically adjusts charging operations, selecting which battery to charge based on real-time charge state comparisons, thereby maintaining reliable and stable system operation.
3Reliability
If separate charging is performed for each battery, then each battery can be optimally charged, but the charging process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically switches between charging the first battery or the second battery based on real-time charge state comparisons. The controller continuously monitors both batteries and automatically selects which battery to charge, creating a dynamic charging process that optimizes charging efficiency without requiring simultaneous charging of both batteries, thus reducing overall charging time.
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 solution enables efficient charging and operation of devices requiring different power sources by minimizing power loss and optimizing battery utilization, allowing the battery pack to function as a single battery without the need for separate charging, thus extending its usage and reducing weight and size.
Implementation Method 1
a charging circuit configured to charge the low voltage battery using the high voltage battery
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack for providing different power sources may include: a low voltage battery configured to supply a first voltage; a high voltage battery configured to supply a second voltage, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage; a charging circuit configured to charge the low voltage battery using the high voltage battery; and/or a controller configured to control the charging circuit to charge the low voltage battery when a charge state of the low voltage battery is less than a desired charge state.