Modular Battery Charger With FIFO Energy Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery chargers lack mobility and efficiency in charging multiple batteries simultaneously, often leading to disorganization and uneven charging times, with limited capacity utilization and size constraints.
Innovation Solution
A battery charger design featuring interchangeable pods and bays with adjustable contact supports for various battery sizes, a charging circuit that allocates energy based on FIFO principles, and a compact form factor for portability, ensuring efficient and simultaneous charging of multiple batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a battery charger is designed to charge multiple batteries simultaneously, then charging efficiency and capacity utilization improve, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charger is divided into separate modular bays (first charging bay, second charging bay) that can independently receive and charge battery pods. Each bay functions as an independent charging unit, allowing the system to scale charging capacity without requiring a complete redesign of the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging bays are designed to universally accept different types of battery pods (first battery pod, second battery pod, third battery pod) through standardized receiving regions. This multi-functionality allows a single charger to handle multiple battery formats and sizes, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the charger accepts various battery sizes (AAA, AA, C, D), then adaptability and versatility improve, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each battery receiving region is equipped with adjustable contact supports that can be positioned to make proper electrical contact with different battery sizes. The contact supports are independently adjustable within each receiving region, allowing local adaptation to various battery dimensions without affecting other regions or requiring complex overall restructuring.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact supports are designed to be adjustable rather than fixed, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of the electrical contact points. This adjustability allows the same receiving region to accommodate multiple battery sizes (AAA, AA, C, D) by simply repositioning the contact supports, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high versatility.
3Ease of operation
If batteries are charged in separate batches, then charging organization and predictability improve, but total charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charger enables continuous charging operation by allowing multiple battery pods to be charged simultaneously in different bays. While the charging process for each pod proceeds independently and continuously, the system as a whole maintains continuous useful action without idle time, thereby reducing total charging time while preserving organizational structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger is designed to accept multiple battery pods at the beginning of the charging cycle, allowing all batteries to be prepared and positioned for charging simultaneously. This preliminary arrangement of multiple batteries in separate bays enables parallel charging processes to begin at the same time, improving time efficiency while maintaining organized charge batches.
4Weight of moving object
If the battery pod is made compact for portability, then ease of transport and mobility improve, but battery receiving capacity and charging efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pod design allows smaller battery receiving regions to be nested within or alongside larger ones within the same pod structure. Multiple batteries of different sizes can be arranged in a nested configuration, maximizing space utilization within a compact pod while maintaining the ability to charge multiple batteries simultaneously when multiple pods are used.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery charger (100) includes a base (102) which selectively receives first (104a) and second (104b) battery pods. The battery pods (104a, 104b), which are adapted to receive one or more batteries (212) for charging, have a form factor which facilitates the handling of the pods (104) and the batteries (212) received therein. Charging energy may be allocated between the pods (104) as a function of the temporal sequence in which the pods (104) are received by the base (102). Charging energy may also be allocated among the batteries (212) so that the batteries (212) are substantially charged at about the same time.