External Battery Charging Path Control for Device Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices require increasing power capacity due to added functions, necessitating larger batteries, and users often need to charge external devices before the external battery itself, which existing technologies do not efficiently address.
Innovation Solution
An external battery system with a main controller unit (MCU) that detects the presence of both an external charger and device, prioritizing charging current to the device when both are connected, using a bypass circuit to direct power from the charger to the device before charging the battery, and switching circuits to manage current flow based on reference values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the external battery charges the battery first before charging the external device, then the battery is properly charged, but the user requirement to charge the external device first is not met
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches charging paths based on real-time detection of device connection status. When an external device is detected, the charging current is redirected to the device; when no device is connected, charging proceeds to the battery. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the charging sequence flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors whether an external device is connected and uses this feedback information to control the charging current distribution. The detecting unit provides real-time status feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the charging path accordingly, ensuring user requirements are met without wasting time.
2Productivity
If the charging current is always provided to the battery first, then the battery charging is simplified, but the external device cannot be charged efficiently when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into multiple independent paths: one path for charging the battery and another path for charging external devices. The control unit can selectively activate either path based on detection results, enabling efficient charging of external devices when needed while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular path design.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging unit is designed with multi-functionality to serve both the battery and external devices. By detecting the connection status and switching the charging current path, the same charging unit can efficiently charge either the battery or external devices, improving productivity without requiring separate dedicated charging circuits for each function.
3Speed
If the external battery directly charges the external device using external power, then the device charging speed increases, but the battery may not be charged sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the charging path based on real-time detection. When an external device is connected, the charging current is directed to the device for fast charging; when no device is connected or after device charging is complete, the charging current automatically switches to charge the battery. This ensures both fast device charging when needed and sufficient battery charging for reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system maintains continuous useful action by seamlessly switching between charging the external device and charging the battery. The detecting unit continuously monitors connection status, and the control unit continuously adjusts the charging path, ensuring that the battery is charged whenever the device is not being charged, thus maintaining reliable battery charge levels while enabling fast device charging when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An external battery and a driving method thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the external battery includes a battery, a charging unit, a detecting unit and a main controller unit (MCU). The charging unit generates a charging current using external power supplied from an external charger to an input stage, and provides the charging current to the battery or to an external device. The detecting unit detects whether the external charger and the external device are both coupled to the external battery. The MCU controls the charging current to be provided to the external device, when the external charger and the external device are both coupled to the external battery. Accordingly, when the external charger and the external device are both coupled to the external battery, the external device can be directly charged using the charging current applied from the external charger.