Multi-Battery Charging Current Distribution Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with multiple batteries do not effectively manage voltage imbalances during charging, leading to capacity loss and accelerated battery deterioration due to continuous charge and discharge cycles caused by battery cell balancing.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to distribute charging current based on the capacity of each battery, minimizing voltage differences by adjusting the charging current for each battery to prevent excessive balancing, thereby extending battery lifespan and reducing deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple batteries are charged simultaneously without separate voltage management, then charging speed is improved, but voltage imbalance occurs between batteries causing capacity loss and accelerated deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidbattery health
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the charging current into separate controllable paths for each battery. The processor independently adjusts the charging current for each battery based on its voltage level, preventing voltage imbalance while maintaining simultaneous charging. This segmentation of current control resolves the contradiction by allowing fast charging without compromising battery health.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If battery cell balancing occurs to reduce voltage difference, then voltage balance is improved, but continuous charge and discharge cycles cause rapid battery deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage balanceVSAvoidbattery lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adjusting charging currents to prevent voltage imbalance from occurring in the first place. The processor monitors battery voltages and proactively modulates charging current distribution before significant voltage differences develop, eliminating the need for corrective balancing operations that would cause additional charge-discharge cycles and battery deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If charging current is distributed based on battery capacity, then voltage difference is minimized, but charging control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage uniformityVSAvoidcharging control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control where the processor continuously monitors battery voltage levels and uses this information to dynamically adjust charging current distribution. This closed-loop feedback system automatically maintains voltage uniformity across batteries without requiring complex manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between achieving voltage uniformity and maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3700047B1Method of controlling charging of plurality of batteries and electronic device to which the same is applied
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3700047B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3700047B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3700047B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of controlling charging of a plurality of batteries and an electronic device to which the same is applied are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of batteries arranged in the housing, a power management module that controls the plurality of batteries, a plurality of current limiting ICs that limits a maximum intensity of a current flowing into each of the plurality of batteries, and at least one processor operationally connected to the plurality of batteries, the power management module and the plurality of current limiting ICs. The at least one processor may set a total charging current output from the power management module, set an individual charging current flowing into each of the plurality of batteries in proportion to a total capacity of each of the plurality of batteries, and recalculate the individual charging currents when the total charging current changes.