E-Cigarette Charging Pack With Foreign Object and Overcurrent Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
E-cigarettes and their rechargeable packs face challenges in safe and convenient operation, particularly in ensuring the pack battery is not overcharged and that foreign objects are not mistakenly recharged, leading to potential overheating and reduced battery lifespan due to frequent recharging.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a rechargeable pack with a pack battery, a first connector for external power, and a second connector for the e-cigarette, along with safety mechanisms like over-current protection, temperature monitoring, and controlled charging to prevent overcharging and ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pack battery is used to recharge the e-cigarette without external power connection, then user convenience is improved, but the pack battery may provide excessive current causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The charging control circuit continuously monitors charging parameters (current, voltage, temperature) and provides feedback to adjust the charging process. When the e-cigarette battery voltage reaches a preset threshold or abnormal conditions occur, the circuit automatically stops charging, preventing overcharging and excessive current damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A charging control circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the pack battery and the e-cigarette battery. This intermediary component regulates current flow, implements protection logic, and ensures safe charging operation without requiring user intervention.
2Ease of operation
If the pack accepts any object in the charging hole, then ease of insertion is improved, but foreign objects may be mistakenly recharged causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
Before charging begins, the charging control circuit performs preliminary detection to verify the inserted object is a valid e-cigarette battery. The circuit checks for proper electrical connection and battery characteristics, and only enables charging when verification succeeds, preventing foreign objects from being charged.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging control circuit detects the electrical characteristics of the inserted object and provides feedback to determine whether to enable charging. If the object does not match expected e-cigarette battery parameters, the circuit prevents charging activation, avoiding overheating risks from foreign objects.
3Productivity
If the pack charges both pack battery and e-cigarette simultaneously from external power, then charging efficiency is improved, but current distribution control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The charging control circuit automatically detects the charging states of both the pack battery and e-cigarette battery, and intelligently allocates charging current without user intervention. The circuit prioritizes charging based on battery levels and requirements, achieving efficient simultaneous charging through self-service control.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging control circuit dynamically adjusts charging parameters (current allocation, voltage levels) based on the real-time states of both batteries. By changing electrical parameters adaptively, the system optimizes charging efficiency while managing the complexity of dual-battery charging.
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 setup enhances the safety and reliability of e-cigarette charging, prevents overheating, and prolongs the battery's lifespan by controlling charging parameters and ensuring only the e-cigarette is recharged, thus addressing the challenges of frequent recharging and foreign object risks.
Implementation Method 1
The pack includes a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source
Implementation Method 2
temperature monitoring, and controlled charging to prevent overcharging and ensure safe operation
Implementation Method 3
a suitable wired or wireless connection (a wireless connection may rely upon induction charging)
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable pack is provided for containing and recharging an e-cigarette. The pack includes a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is received within the pack; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette using the pack battery when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector. The second recharging mechanism can be configured to provide protection against the pack battery providing excessive current through the second connector.