Mobile Battery Charging Feedback Using Signal Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices lack an efficient method to determine the charging state of an external device's battery and to selectively provide power based on that state, leading to potential overcharging or undercharging.
Innovation Solution
A mobile system comprising a first mobile device that outputs a signal based on its battery's charged state and a second mobile device that receives this signal to determine the charged state and selectively provide power to the first device based on the duration and toggle times of the signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is continuously provided to the external device, then the external device can be charged, but overcharging may occur causing battery damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the external device sends signal levels back to the mobile device to indicate its charging state. The mobile device monitors these signal levels (e.g., VBUS voltage levels) and adjusts power provision accordingly, stopping power supply when the external device reaches full charge. This closed-loop feedback prevents overcharging by continuously responding to the external device's actual charging status.
Solution Approach 2:
The external device autonomously monitors its own battery charging state and communicates this information back to the mobile device through signal level changes. The device essentially serves itself by detecting its own charging status and requesting appropriate power levels, reducing the need for complex control logic in the power source device.
2Reliability
If power is not provided to the external device, then overcharging is prevented, but undercharging occurs reducing battery efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism continuously monitors the external device's charging status through signal levels. When the battery is not yet full, the external device maintains signal levels indicating it accepts power, allowing the mobile device to continue providing charge. This ensures the battery receives adequate charging until full capacity is reached, preventing undercharging and improving overall battery efficiency.
3Productivity
If signal level thresholds are set low, then power is provided early, but overcharging risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple signal level thresholds (e.g., first threshold VBUS1 and second threshold VBUS2) where the external device transitions between different signal levels based on its charging state. The mobile device responds to these threshold crossings by adjusting power levels accordingly. This multi-threshold feedback approach enables fast charging while maintaining safety, as power is only increased when the external device explicitly signals readiness through appropriate signal level transitions.
4Reliability
If signal level thresholds are set high, then charging safety is improved, but charging speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic threshold adjustment where the signal level thresholds are not fixed but adapt based on the charging context. The mobile device and external device negotiate and adjust the thresholds dynamically during the charging process, allowing the system to optimize between safety and speed in real-time based on battery state, temperature, and other conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile system includes a first mobile device configured to output a signal having a level less than or equal to a reference level on the basis of a charged state of a battery in the first mobile device and a second mobile device configured to receive the signal and to selectively provide power to the first mobile device on the basis of a duration time for which a level of the signal is maintained to be less than or equal to the reference level and a toggle time for which the signal is toggled.