Dynamic Battery Charging Current Control for Multi-Cell Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with multiple rechargeable batteries experience long recharging times due to safety measures that limit the maximum charge current, even when all cells are connected, leading to inefficient charging.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that measure electrical currents in different branches of the battery circuit to detect connection faults and adjust the charge current accordingly, ensuring each battery does not exceed a safe current limit, allowing for efficient and safe charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the maximum allowable charge current is limited to the single-cell maximum to ensure safety when cells are disconnected, then safety is improved, but recharging time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The charge current is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors the electrical connection status of each cell and adjusts the charge current in real-time. When all cells are properly connected, the system applies a higher charge current (N times the single-cell maximum for N cells). When disconnection is detected, the system automatically reduces the current to the safe single-cell maximum, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and charging speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the electrical connection status of each cell during charging. The monitoring circuit detects whether each cell is properly connected to the charging circuit, and this information feeds back to the charge control mechanism, which adjusts the charge current accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures both safety and optimal charging speed.
2Productivity
If a higher charge current is applied when all cells are connected to reduce recharging time, then productivity is improved, but safety risk increases if cell disconnection occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The charge current transitions from a fixed conservative value to a dynamic value that adapts to the actual connection status. The system applies high current (N × I_max) when all cells are confirmed connected, and automatically switches to safe current (I_max) when disconnection is detected, thus achieving both high productivity and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring to detect the connection status of each cell before applying the full charge current. By预先 detecting whether all cells are properly connected, the system can safely apply higher charging current from the outset, avoiding the need to use conservative current limits throughout the entire charging process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system to charge efficiently and safely batteries that power an electronic device and are comprised in an electronic device. The method and system performs measurement of electrical currents flowing in different branches of an electrical circuit that comprises the batteries and determines if there if there is a battery connection fault. The charge current used to charge the batteries is adjusted in accordance with the detected fault or absence thereof, in order not to exceed a safe current limit.