Modular Buck-Boost Battery Charger for Dual Battery Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery charger products only support systems with a single USB type-C port and a single battery, failing to accommodate systems with multiple battery stacks, which are increasingly common in modern devices.
Innovation Solution
A modular battery charger architecture that supports multiple battery applications with a single USB type-C port by adding additional voltage regulators and battery chargers, enabling simultaneous charging of multiple batteries and supplying voltage to On the Go devices from multiple batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single USB type-C port and single battery charger architecture is used, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but the charger cannot support systems with multiple battery stacks
Solution Approach 1:
The charger architecture is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting different battery configurations (single battery, dual batteries in series or parallel) through a single USB type-C port. The system can adapt its charging parameters and voltage output to match the connected battery configuration, making one charger capable of replacing multiple specialized chargers.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger employs dynamic voltage regulation and configuration detection to adapt its behavior based on the connected battery setup. The system can dynamically switch between different charging modes (single battery mode, dual battery series mode, dual battery parallel mode) and adjust voltage/current parameters in real-time based on the detected configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional voltage regulators and battery chargers are added to support multiple batteries, then charging capability for multiple battery stacks is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charger architecture is segmented into modular functional blocks including voltage regulators, battery charger ICs, and control logic that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the necessary components for the current battery configuration, reducing the effective complexity even though multiple components are available in the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger uses a nested architecture where additional voltage regulators and charger modules are integrated into the existing single-port framework. The components are organized in hierarchical layers with the USB type-C interface at the top level, followed by voltage regulation stages, and then battery charging stages, allowing compact integration of multiple functions within a unified structure.
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 efficient charging of multiple batteries with different voltage capacities and current requirements, supporting higher power demands and extending to multiple USB Type-C ports, thus addressing the limitations of existing charger products.
Implementation Method 1
Some embodiments enable supplying two or more system voltages and charging two or more batteries simultaneously using a single adapter and/or port
Implementation Method 2
charging two or more batteries simultaneously using a single adapter and/or port
Data Source
AI summary
One or more embodiments are directed to a battery charger that can support multiple battery applications with a single USB type-C port. The architecture can be easily extended to support more applications such as those including two or more USB Type-C ports by adding additional voltage regulators. Additionally, the architecture can easily be extended to support additional batteries by adding corresponding battery chargers. Some embodiments enable supplying two or more system voltages and charging two or more batteries simultaneously using a single adapter and/or port. Other embodiments enable supplying voltage to On the Go devices from two or more batteries simultaneously.