Multi-port Battery Charge System with Segmented Voltage Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charge and discharge systems for portable electronic devices are limited by standard USB specifications, restricting charge current to 3A, which hinders faster charging of larger battery capacities in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A multi-port battery charge and discharge system with multiple voltage converting circuits and USB ports, utilizing port and pin connecting switches to manage charge and discharge modes, allowing for increased current flow and flexible power sourcing/sinking configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard USB charge specification is used, then compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but charge current is limited to 3A which reduces charging speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the charging function into multiple independent voltage converting circuits, each capable of operating autonomously. This segmentation allows the system to bypass the 3A limitation of standard USB ports by using multiple ports in parallel, achieving faster overall charging while maintaining USB compatibility at each individual port.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple USB ports and their corresponding voltage converting circuits into a unified battery charging system. By merging the charging paths through common battery connections and coordinated control, the system aggregates the current capacity across multiple ports to achieve fast charging speeds that exceed the 3A limitation of individual USB ports.
2Productivity
If multiple voltage converting circuits are used to enable faster charging, then charging speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each voltage converting circuit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating in both charging mode and discharging mode. This universal design allows the same hardware circuit to serve multiple purposes depending on operational requirements, reducing the need for separate dedicated circuits for different functions and thereby managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic switching between different operational modes (charging/discharging) and configurable current allocations for each voltage converting circuit. Through dynamic control mechanisms, the system can adaptively adjust the operation of each circuit based on real-time battery status and power source conditions, optimizing performance while managing complexity through intelligent control rather than fixed hardware configurations.
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
Enables faster charging and discharging by regulating current and voltage feedback signals, allowing for higher current transfer and efficient battery management across multiple ports, thereby supporting larger battery capacities.
Implementation Method 1
Each one of the plurality of voltage converting circuits comprises a first pin coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of USB ports through a corresponding one of the plurality of port connecting switches, and a second pin coupled to a battery pack
Implementation Method 2
one of the plurality of voltage converting circuits is configured to generate a master current signal at its second pin and to regulate the master current signal based on a voltage feedback signal indicative of a voltage of the battery pack and a current feedback signal indicative of a current flowing through the battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-port battery charge and discharge system used in the charge and discharge battery pack application. The multi-port battery charge and discharge system has N voltage converting circuits, each of which can operate in a charge mode to charge a battery pack or in a discharge mode to supply power sinks. The N voltage converting circuits can be operated in a master-slave configuration with one of the N voltage converting circuits set as a master voltage converting circuit and the remained ones set as slave voltage converting circuits. In a charge state, the master voltage converting circuit provides a regulated current signal to charge the battery pack, and the slave voltage converting circuits provide slave current signals to complementally charge the battery pack.