E-Cigarette Charger Feedback Control for Accurate Battery Voltage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing e-cigarette chargers often rely solely on internal circuitry, leading to inefficient charging, longer charging times, and potential overcharging or undercharging due to inaccurate battery voltage estimation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a charger that measures battery voltage from external connectors, using resistance measurements to detect battery properties and control charging current and voltage optimally, allowing for accurate and efficient charging across different e-cigarette types and batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the charger relies solely on internal circuitry for charging, then the device structure remains simple, but charging efficiency is poor and charging time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external charger as an intermediary device that bridges the power source and the electronic cigarette battery. This external charger contains the complex charging control circuitry, while the e-cigarette itself maintains a simple connector structure. The intermediary charger handles voltage measurement, current control, and charging state determination, thereby improving charging efficiency without complicating the e-cigarette device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex charging control functions from the e-cigarette device and places them in a separate external charger. By taking out the voltage measurement circuit, current control logic, and charging state determination algorithms from the battery compartment and placing them in the external charger, the patent achieves high charging efficiency while keeping the e-cigarette structure simple.
2Measurement precision
If the charger uses internal circuitry without external voltage measurement, then the charger is easier to manufacture, but battery voltage estimation is inaccurate leading to overcharging or undercharging
Solution Approach 1:
The external charger acts as an intermediary that performs accurate voltage measurement through its measurement circuit connected to the battery terminals. This intermediary device contains the precision measurement circuitry and control logic, enabling accurate battery voltage detection without requiring complex manufacturing processes in the e-cigarette itself. The external charger handles the complexity of precise measurement while the e-cigarette maintains a simple connector design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the external charger continuously measures the battery voltage through its measurement circuit and adjusts the charging current accordingly. The charger determines charging states (charging, full charge, or empty) based on measured voltage thresholds and provides appropriate feedback control. This feedback system ensures accurate voltage detection and prevents overcharging or undercharging, while the external charger contains all the measurement and control complexity.
3Reliability
If the charger limits charging current for safety, then battery safety is improved, but charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic current control where the external charger adjusts the charging current based on real-time battery voltage measurements and determined charging states. The charger can provide high current during safe charging phases and automatically reduce or stop current when approaching full charge or detecting abnormal conditions. This dynamic adjustment maintains battery safety through continuous monitoring while minimizing charging time by allowing higher currents when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The external charger uses feedback control to continuously monitor battery voltage and adjust charging current accordingly. The charger determines the charging state based on measured voltage and provides feedback to control the current output. This feedback mechanism ensures battery safety by preventing overcharging and detecting abnormal conditions, while simultaneously optimizing charging speed by maintaining high current during safe charging phases.
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 more accurate battery voltage detection and optimized charging, extending battery life, reducing charging time, and preventing overcharging or undercharging.
Implementation Method 1
measures the voltage at the connectors with the cigarette, and not by measuring the voltage at the battery
Implementation Method 2
using resistance measurements to detect battery properties and control charging current and voltage optimally
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic cigarette (“e-Cig”) may include improved charging of the battery. A more accurate battery voltage can be detected for the connectors with the chargers that can provide for an optimized evaluation of the charging process. Various battery properties may be detected based on resistance measurements from within the e-Cig. The battery charging can be controlled and optimized based on a slow control of the current and voltage.