Electric Load Driving Circuit Charge Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for driving electric loads with capacity components, such as piezoelectric elements and liquid crystal screens, face challenges in maintaining stable voltage due to unbalanced charge accumulation in capacitors, leading to increased terminal voltage and inefficient power usage.

Innovation Solution

An electric load driving circuit with multiple power sources and capacitors of different voltages, along with switch control and discharge paths, allows for controlled voltage switching and charge balancing to maintain stable voltage application, preventing terminal voltage rise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If capacitors are switched one after another to raise or lower the applied voltage to the load, then the applied voltage can be adjusted without continuous power supply, but the terminal voltage of the capacitor gradually rises making proper driving of the load difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply efficiencyVSAvoidterminal voltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A discharge controller is introduced as an intermediary component between the capacitor and the load. This controller manages the charge-discharge cycles of the capacitor, preventing uncontrolled charge accumulation that leads to terminal voltage rise. The discharge controller acts as a mediator that balances the capacitor's interaction with both the power source and the load, resolving the contradiction between efficient power usage and voltage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control where the discharge controller monitors the capacitor's charge state and adjusts the discharge timing and magnitude accordingly. This feedback mechanism prevents the terminal voltage from rising excessively by discharging the capacitor at appropriate moments, thereby maintaining stable voltage conditions while still achieving efficient power supply utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If electric charges are accumulated one-sidedly in the capacitor during voltage adjustment, then the quantity of electric charges increases and the terminal voltage rises, but this makes it difficult to maintain proper voltage levels for load driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage adjustment capabilityVSAvoidvoltage level stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge controller implements periodic discharge actions based on the capacitor's charge accumulation pattern. Instead of continuous discharge, the system periodically releases charges at strategically determined intervals, preventing one-sided charge accumulation while maintaining the ability to adjust voltage levels. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by allowing voltage adjustment operations while preventing terminal voltage rise through controlled, intermittent discharge cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

The circuit enables efficient and stable driving of electric loads by balancing charge supply and discharge, preventing terminal voltage increases and ensuring accurate voltage waveform application.

Implementation Method 1

In an electric load having a capacity component, the applied voltage rises as electric charges are supplied to the load, whereas the applied voltage decreases as electric charges are discharged from the load. Therefore, if a capacitor is used when driving a load having a capacity component, the load can be efficiently driven.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS8693225B2Electric load driving circuit
Publication Date: 2014.04.08 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • US8693225B2 patent drawing
  • US8693225B2 patent drawing
  • US8693225B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An electric load driving circuit for driving an electric load having a capacity component includes a plurality of power sources generating different voltages, capacitors provided parallel to the plurality of power sources, a switch control unit that switches connections between the capacitors and the electric load and thereby switching a voltage applied to the electric load, discharge paths that enable discharging electric charge stored in the capacitor, and a discharge control unit that controls a quantity of electric charge discharged from the discharge paths.