Multi-Port Charger Using Battery-Side Charge Status Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-port chargers face challenges in efficiently indicating the charge status of rechargeable battery units with minimal implementation effort, particularly for specific types, and often require complex display functions on the charger itself.
Innovation Solution
The multi-port charger includes an indicator command unit that sends charge status indicator commands to battery-side display units, allowing users to activate the display of charge status on the battery units without needing additional display units on the charger, and can maintain charging operations during status queries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a device-side display unit is used to indicate battery charge status, then charge status indication is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery unit's own display unit is utilized to indicate its charge status, eliminating the need for an external display on the charger. The battery unit serves itself by having its built-in display unit activated by commands from the charger, thus providing information without adding complexity to the charger device.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery-side display unit serves dual purposes: it displays information to the user and responds to commands from the charger. This multi-functional approach allows the same component to provide both visual feedback and communication capability, reducing the need for separate display hardware on the charger.
2Loss of information
If a device-side display unit is implemented, then charge status can be displayed, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery unit provides its own display capability through its built-in display unit, eliminating the need for the charger manufacturer to produce and assemble additional display components. This shifts the manufacturing burden to the battery unit producer, potentially reducing overall system manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The display function is extracted from the charger and relocated to the battery unit. This separation allows each component to be manufactured independently with optimized cost structures, and the charger focuses only on control and power delivery functions.
3Loss of information
If charging operations are interrupted to display charge status, then accurate status information is provided, but charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging operation continues uninterrupted while the display unit provides charge status information. The indicator command unit sends commands to the battery-side display unit during ongoing charging, allowing the charging process to maintain continuity without interruption for status display.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge status is displayed periodically or on-demand through command signals rather than requiring continuous interruption of charging. The system can update the display at appropriate intervals or when users query the status, minimizing disruption to the charging process.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-port charger has a plurality of charging ports, each configured for removably mounting and electrically charging a rechargeable battery unit, an indicator command unit and a user-activatable command activation unit which is configured to activate the indicator command unit, as well as a corresponding battery multi-port charger set. The indicator command unit is configured to send a charge status indicator command, which commands the battery unit mounted on the respective charging port to indicate its charge status on a battery-side display unit. Use may be for charging battery packs for electric garden and forestry working apparatus.