Multi-Bay Battery Charger with Pseudo-Passthrough Power Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack chargers require multiple outlets for simultaneous charging and powering devices, limiting their versatility and efficiency, especially in remote job sites with limited access to electrical grids.
Innovation Solution
A multi-bay battery pack charger with pseudo-passthrough capability allows simultaneous charging and discharging of battery packs, using a sequential charging and discharging approach with simplified control circuitry, enabling continuous power delivery to connected devices while recharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a battery pack charger uses parallel or series operation of battery packs, then power delivery capability is improved, but circuitry complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack operation into separate functional segments: one battery pack dedicated to charging and another to discharging. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex parallel or series circuitry by using distinct battery packs for each function, thereby maintaining power delivery capability while reducing circuitry complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The charger unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a charging device and a power delivery device simultaneously through different battery packs. This universal design allows the same hardware platform to perform multiple functions without requiring additional complex circuitry for parallel or series operations
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-bay battery pack charger may include a plurality of battery pack interfaces configured to removably receive a plurality of battery packs, a charging circuit electrically connected to the plurality of battery pack interfaces, a power output, a discharging circuit electrically connected between the plurality of battery pack interfaces and the power output, and an electronic processor electrically connected to the charging circuit and the discharging circuit. The electronic processor may be configured to, when a first battery pack and a second battery pack are removably received in the plurality of battery pack interfaces and a first condition is satisfied, charge the first battery pack using the charging circuit; and discharge the second battery pack using the discharging circuit.