Multi-Channel Charging Circuit Segmentation for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging electronic devices often leads to heating issues due to prolonged charging times, which can cause faults and inefficiencies, especially when using conventional single-cell charging schemes that fail to effectively manage voltage and current for multiple cells in series.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize multiple cells coupled in series with a conversion circuit and communication control circuit to manage input voltage and current, allowing for efficient charging by converting input voltage into charging voltage and power supply voltage, and dynamically controlling charging stages to reduce heating and improve charging speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional single-cell charging schemes are used with multiple cells in series, then the charging system is simple, but the charging current magnitude causes excessive heating and fails to ensure equal charging speed for all cells
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into multiple independent charging channels, with each channel responsible for charging one cell. This segmentation allows independent control of charging current for each cell, ensuring equal charging speed while distributing heat generation across multiple channels rather than concentrating it in a single high-current path.
2Device complexity
If conventional single-cell charging schemes are used with multiple cells in series, then the charging system is simple, but the charging speed is inefficient due to heating limitations
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the charging system into multiple parallel charging channels, each operating at optimized current levels, the system achieves higher overall charging productivity without the excessive heating that would limit single-channel high-current charging. Each channel operates independently at efficient current levels.
3Device complexity
If multiple cells are charged through a single channel with voltage conversion, then the circuit is simplified, but voltage and current cannot be dynamically controlled to match different charging stages
Solution Approach 1:
The single voltage conversion circuit is segmented into multiple independent charging channels, each with its own control circuitry. This allows dynamic control of voltage and current for each channel independently, enabling precise matching to different charging stages (constant current, constant voltage, trickle charging) for each cell while maintaining reliable charging operation.
4Productivity
If high charging current is used to increase charging speed, then charging productivity improves, but heating increases causing faults and reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The high charging current is segmented and distributed across multiple parallel charging channels. Each channel carries a portion of the total current, so the overall charging productivity is maintained while the current density and associated heating in each individual channel is reduced to safe levels, preventing thermal faults.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple charging channels act as intermediaries between the power supply and the battery cells. These intermediate channels distribute and control the current flow, transforming a single high-current path into multiple lower-current paths, thereby reducing heating while maintaining charging speed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces heating during charging by decreasing the magnitude of charging current, ensures equal charging speed for multiple cells, and prevents low voltage issues, thereby enhancing charging efficiency and reducing waiting times for power-on and overall device performance.
Implementation Method 1
The conversion circuit is configured to receive input voltage from a power supply device, convert the input voltage into charging voltage for the multiple cells and into power supply voltage for the system
Implementation Method 2
The device to be charged includes a communication control circuit configured to communicate with the power supply device to control at least one of the input voltage and the input current received from the power supply device to match a present charging stage
Data Source
AI summary
A device to be charged, a charging method, and a charging control circuit are provided. The device to be charged includes multiple cells coupled in series, a conversion circuit, a first charging channel, a second charging channel, and a communication control circuit. The conversion circuit is configured to receive input voltage from a power supply device, convert the input voltage into charging voltage for the multiple cells and into power supply voltage for a system of the device to be charged, charge the multiple cells according to the charging voltage, and supply power to the system of the device to be charged according to the power supply voltage.