Multi-Battery Power Path Switching for Sequential Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of multi-battery architectures in electronic devices leads to intricate charging and discharging circuits, which are inefficient in managing power consumption and mode switching.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a system circuit, power connector, path selection circuit, series circuits, and control circuit that allows for sequential and simultaneous charging and discharging modes, enabling efficient power management by selectively connecting batteries and controlling switches to optimize power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a multi-battery architecture is adopted to supply sufficient electricity, then the power consumption capability is improved, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multi-battery system into multiple independent series circuits, where each series circuit contains a battery connector, charging switch, battery switch, and discharging path. This segmentation allows each battery to be managed independently through shared control circuits, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to supply sufficient power through parallel battery operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to universally control multiple series circuits through shared control lines. The same control circuit can manage charging and discharging operations for all batteries by controlling the respective charging switches and battery switches, eliminating the need for separate control circuits for each battery and thereby reducing circuit complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple charging and discharging paths are provided for multi-battery architecture, then the power management flexibility is improved, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path selection through controllable switches (charging switches and battery switches) that can be turned on or off based on operational requirements. The control circuit dynamically configures the charging and discharging paths by selectively activating specific switches, allowing the system to adapt between different power management modes without requiring multiple fixed physical paths
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary that manages multiple charging and discharging paths through shared control mechanisms. By using the control circuit to coordinate the switches across different series circuits, the system achieves flexible power management without duplicating control infrastructure for each path, thereby reducing overall circuit complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device (10) includes a system circuit (110), a power connector (120), a path selection circuit (131), a plurality of battery connectors (140; 141, 143), a plurality of series circuits (133; 133A, 133B), and a control circuit (160). The power connector (120) is suitable for receiving power (Ipo). The path selection circuit (131) is coupled to the system circuit (110) and the power connector (120). The battery connectors (140; 141, 143) are respectively suitable for coupling a plurality of batteries (Bat; BatA, BatB). The series circuits (133; 133A, 133B) respectively correspond to the battery connectors (140; 141, 143), and each series circuit (133; 133A; 133B) is connected between the corresponding battery connector (140; 141, 143) and the path selection circuit (131). Each series circuit (133; 133A; 133B) includes: a charging switch (SWc), a battery switch (SWb) and a discharging path (PTd). In a sequential discharge mode, the control circuit (160) controls the series circuits (133; 133A, 133B) to turn on the battery switch (SWb) thereof in turn and controls the path selection circuit (131) to connect the series circuits (133; 133A, 133B) to the system circuit. The remaining battery switches (SWb) and all charging switches (SWc) remain off.