Dynamic Threshold Charger for Battery Overheat Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chargers face challenges in properly protecting heat-generating components due to difficulties in providing temperature detectors for all components, leading to inadequate temperature monitoring and potential overheating during battery charging, especially when charging batteries with varying capacities.
Innovation Solution
A charger design that integrates a detection circuit to monitor the temperature of a heat-generating component, calculates an integrated capacity based on charging current, and adjusts the detection threshold dynamically to prevent overheating, using both correspondence data and nominal capacity to set appropriate temperature thresholds for different battery capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature detector is provided to each heat-generating component, then temperature monitoring precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature monitoring function by separating the detection target (one heat-generating component) from the protection target (multiple heat-generating components). By monitoring one component's temperature and using it to infer the thermal state of other components, the system achieves comprehensive protection without installing detectors on each component, thus resolving the contradiction between monitoring precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach where the temperature of one heat-generating component serves as a proxy indicator for the thermal state of other components. The temperature detector monitors a accessible component, and this information is used to indirectly assess and protect other components that are difficult to access, eliminating the need for multiple detectors while maintaining protection effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed component temperature threshold is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates when charging batteries with varying capacities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed temperature threshold into a dynamic threshold that adapts to different charging conditions. The threshold is calculated based on the integrated capacity (product of charging current and time), allowing the system to automatically adjust protection parameters according to the actual thermal load, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and reliability across varying battery capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature threshold parameter from a fixed value to a variable that depends on charging conditions. By calculating the threshold based on integrated capacity, the system dynamically adjusts the protection level to match the actual thermal state, ensuring reliable protection whether charging small or large capacity batteries without requiring manual reconfiguration.
3Reliability
If the detection threshold is set based on maximum battery capacity, then reliability is improved for large batteries, but productivity decreases for small batteries due to unnecessary current reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic detection threshold that scales with the actual charging conditions rather than using a fixed maximum value. The threshold is calculated based on integrated capacity, which reflects the real-time thermal load. This allows small batteries to charge at full speed without unnecessary interruptions while large batteries receive appropriate protection, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the detection threshold to the specific charging scenario. Instead of using a uniform threshold for all charging situations, the system calculates appropriate thresholds based on the actual integrated capacity of each charging session, ensuring that protection measures are proportionate to the actual risk and do not unnecessarily limit charging speed for small batteries.
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 ensures proper protection of the charger by reducing the charging current when necessary and canceling the reduction when safe, effectively managing temperature across various battery capacities during sequential charging.
Implementation Method 1
a detection circuit and a reduction circuit. The detection circuit detects a temperature of the heat-generating component
Implementation Method 2
The power-supply circuit includes a heat-generating component. The power-supply circuit generates a second electric power from the first electric power inputted through the first connection portion
Data Source
AI summary
A charger includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a power-supply circuit, an integration circuit, a storage device, a first calculation circuit, a threshold setting circuit, a detection circuit, and a reduction circuit. The power-supply circuit includes a heat-generating component. At a start of charging a battery, the first calculation circuit calculates a first detection threshold candidate based on a first correspondence data (or a first correlation data). The first detection threshold candidate corresponds to a first temperature threshold that is calculated, with a calculated integrated capacity assigned to a battery capacity, based on the first correspondence data. The threshold setting circuit sets the first detection threshold candidate as a detection threshold. The reduction circuit performs reduction of a charging current value in response to a detected temperature of the heat-generating component having become higher than or equal to the detection threshold.