Wireless Charging Battery Pack With I2C Interface for Legacy Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Many legacy mobile electronic devices lack wireless charging capabilities, despite the abundance of wireless charging infrastructure, due to cost and redesign constraints, making it difficult to retrofit them with wireless charging without significant manufacturing changes.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered mobile electronic device with an installed battery pack that includes a power management IC and a wireless receiver system, allowing for selective wireless charging, while maintaining compatibility with wired charging, and using a pack microcontroller to interface with the device via I2C protocol to manage charging between wireless and wired sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless charging components are integrated into legacy devices, then wireless charging capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless charging system is segmented into independent modules: a wireless power receiver integrated into the battery pack, a power management IC, and a microcontroller. This modular segmentation allows the wireless charging functionality to be added without redesigning the entire device, thereby reducing complexity while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless power receiver and power management components are nested within the existing battery pack structure. By placing the wireless charging components inside the battery pack rather than integrating them into the main device body, the solution achieves wireless charging capability while minimizing impact on overall device complexity and leveraging existing battery compartment space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless charging components are integrated into legacy devices, then wireless charging capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the wireless charging system into a self-contained battery pack module with integrated power management IC and wireless receiver, the solution enables separate manufacturing of the wireless charging battery pack. This allows legacy devices to be retrofitted with wireless charging capability through battery pack replacement alone, avoiding costly redesign and retooling of the main device manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack serves as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between legacy wired-only devices and modern wireless charging infrastructure. The power management IC acts as an intermediary that manages power flow between wireless and wired charging sources, enabling seamless integration without requiring changes to the device's core architecture or manufacturing processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the battery pack includes both wired and wireless charging capabilities, then charging flexibility is improved, but power management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management IC serves as an intermediary that automatically manages power flow between wireless and wired charging sources. It monitors charging status, selects appropriate charging modes, and coordinates with the microcontroller to maintain seamless operation. This intermediary component handles the complexity of dual charging mode management, keeping the overall system design simple and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system operates autonomously, with the power management IC and microcontroller automatically detecting charging source type (wireless or wired) and managing power flow without user intervention. The system self-regulates charging parameters, monitors battery status, and switches between charging modes as needed, reducing the burden on users and simplifying the user interface.
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
Enables legacy devices to access wireless charging infrastructure without redesign costs, enhancing customer satisfaction and reliability by providing a seamless transition between wired and wireless charging, while maintaining compatibility with existing devices and infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless receiver system configured to wirelessly receive power from a power source outside of the device in order to charge the battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A device charging system includes a legacy battery-powered mobile electronic device configured for wired-only charging and a wireless charging enabled battery pack. The wireless charging enabled battery pack may contain one or more battery cells as well as a power management integrated circuit (IC) configured to manage charging of the battery cells. The wireless charging enabled battery pack also contains a wireless power module to receive power wirelessly from a WPT (wireless power transfer) power source outside of the legacy device. In keeping with embodiments of the disclosure, a pack microcontroller in the battery pack interfaces to the legacy device, presenting an interface consistent with a wired-only charged battery pack.