Multi-Bay Battery Charger With Skip Switching for Faster Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-bay battery chargers are inefficient as they charge battery packs one at a time in series, and are often large and cumbersome for carrying.
Innovation Solution
A multi-bay battery charger with a housing and multiple charging ports, a charging circuit, and a skip switch that allows for simultaneous charging of multiple battery packs and the ability to skip a currently charging battery pack to advance to another.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-bay battery charger charges battery packs in series one at a time, then charging efficiency is improved (one battery finishes before next begins), but productivity deteriorates (cannot charge multiple batteries simultaneously)
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically switches between series charging mode (for reliability) and parallel charging mode (for productivity) based on battery pack presence and user selection. The controller can adaptively change charging configuration from charging one battery at a time to charging multiple batteries simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between reliable sequential charging and efficient parallel charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging parameter configuration by allowing user selection of charging mode (series or parallel) and automatically detecting battery pack presence. This parameter change enables the system to switch between charging one battery at a time (series) and charging multiple batteries simultaneously (parallel), thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable sequential charging and productive parallel charging.
2Quantity of substance
If multi-bay battery charger is designed to support multiple battery packs, then charging capacity is improved, but device complexity and size increase making it cumbersome to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The charging circuit board is designed with universal multi-functionality to support both series charging and parallel charging modes using the same hardware infrastructure. This multi-functional design allows the charger to handle multiple battery packs without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same circuit board adapts its configuration based on the number of battery packs connected.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically configures its internal circuitry based on the number of battery packs detected. When multiple battery packs are connected, the system automatically or manually switches to parallel charging mode, utilizing the available battery packs without requiring dedicated hardware for each charging bay, thereby maintaining low device complexity while supporting high charging capacity.
3Productivity
If charging circuit supports parallel charging of multiple battery packs, then productivity is improved (simultaneous charging), but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging circuit board is designed with universal multi-functionality to support both series charging and parallel charging modes using the same hardware infrastructure. This multi-functional design allows the charger to handle multiple battery packs without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same circuit board adapts its configuration based on the number of battery packs connected.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system incorporates automatic detection capability that allows the charging circuit to self-configure based on the number of battery packs connected. The system can automatically detect whether one or multiple battery packs are present and switch between series and parallel charging modes without requiring complex manual configuration or additional control circuitry, thereby achieving parallel charging capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery charger includes a housing and a plurality of charging ports coupled to the housing. Each charging port is configured to connect a battery pack to the battery charger. The battery charger also includes a charging circuit positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of charging ports. The charging circuit is operable to charge the battery packs connected to the plurality of charging ports in series. The battery charger further includes a skip switch coupled to the charging circuit. The skip switch is operable to skip a battery pack currently being charged and advance to another battery pack connected to the battery charger.