Multi-Cell Battery Switching to Eliminate Step-Down Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery systems face inefficiencies in charging and maintaining power due to energy loss during electric power conversion, leading to longer charging times and shorter operating times for electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A switched multi-cell battery system that transfers electrical power from a power adapter to electronic device components by charging battery cells in series and discharging them in parallel, reducing or eliminating the need for a voltage step-down conversion stage and enhancing power-transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If voltage conversion is performed at power adapter and battery stages, then power can be supplied to components, but energy loss occurs during conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the voltage step-down conversion stage from the power supply path. By configuring battery cells in series during charging and parallel during discharging, the system removes the need for intermediate voltage conversion components (such as DC-DC converters), thereby eliminating the energy loss associated with these conversion stages and improving overall power transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional power conversion approach. Instead of converting voltage down from the adapter and then managing battery voltage, the system charges batteries at higher voltage (series configuration) and discharges at lower voltage (parallel configuration) directly to match component requirements. This reversal eliminates the need for step-down conversion during discharge, reducing energy loss.
2Productivity
If battery cells are charged in series, then charging efficiency increases, but operating time on single charge decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic reconfiguration of battery cell connections. The system switches between series configuration during charging (to maximize charging speed and efficiency) and parallel configuration during discharging (to maximize operating time and current delivery). This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements, achieving both fast charging and extended operating time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between charging mode (series configuration) and discharging mode (parallel configuration). This periodic reconfiguration allows the battery to be charged efficiently in series and then discharged to provide extended operating time in parallel, effectively resolving the contradiction between charging speed and operating duration.
3Loss of energy
If voltage step-down conversion stage is included, then voltage matching is achieved, but power transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary voltage matching through strategic battery cell configuration. Before power transfer occurs, the system configures battery cells in parallel during discharging to naturally match the lower voltage requirements of device components. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for subsequent voltage step-down conversion, ensuring voltage compatibility while maximizing power transfer efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques for a switched multi-cell battery system for electronic devices. In some aspects, a switched multi-cell battery system may transfer, via a plurality of power control switches electrical power from a power adapter to components of the electronic device by charging battery cells in series and by discharging the battery cells in parallel or as a single battery cell. As a result, the switched multi-cell battery system may reduce or eliminate a voltage step-down conversion stage to increase a power-transfer efficiency of an electronic device. By doing so, charging times may be reduced or operating times may be increased, thereby improving users' experience with their electronic devices.