Multi-Phase Battery Charging Using Expansion Force Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries experience excessive expansion forces during charging, which negatively impact their service life and system structure stability, as they are constrained by external structures, leading to potential structural instability and reduced lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A charging method and apparatus that adjust the charging current in multiple constant current phases based on the expansion force, switching between phases to manage and reduce the expansion force, thereby stabilizing the battery system and prolonging the battery's service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a lithium-ion battery is charged with high current to improve charging speed, then charging efficiency is improved, but expansion force increases excessively causing negative impact on service life and system structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the charging current adjustable rather than fixed. The charging apparatus dynamically changes the charging current based on real-time expansion force feedback, transitioning from static high-current charging to dynamic adaptive charging. This resolves the contradiction by allowing high current when expansion force is low (improving charging speed) while reducing current when expansion force increases (protecting service life).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by measuring the expansion force during charging and using this information to adjust the charging current. The charging apparatus continuously monitors expansion force and feeds this information back to the current control system, which then adjusts the charging current accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between charging speed and service life by automatically balancing these competing requirements.
2Loss of time
If a lithium-ion battery is charged with high current to improve charging efficiency, then charging time is reduced, but expansion force causes structural instability in the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to make the charging current adaptive rather than constant. By dynamically adjusting the charging current based on real-time expansion force measurements, the system can charge quickly when structurally safe (reducing charging time) while preventing structural instability when expansion force becomes excessive. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between charging time and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the expansion force measurement feeds back to the charging current control system. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain structural stability by reducing current when expansion force threatens structural integrity, while allowing high current (shorter charging time) when the structure can tolerate it. The feedback mechanism thus resolves the contradiction between charging time and structural stability.
3Volume of moving object
If external structure constrains the battery to maintain compact design, then device size is reduced, but expansion force during charging increases and affects service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the charging current parameter based on expansion force conditions. Rather than changing the physical constraints of the battery structure, the system changes the electrical parameter (charging current) to compensate for the constrained expansion environment. This resolves the contradiction by allowing compact design with external constraints while protecting service life through current adjustment when expansion force becomes excessive.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging method, a charging apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: charging a to-be-charged battery module by using a charging current in a first constant current charging phase, where charging currents in a plurality of constant current charging phases are sequentially arranged, and the charging current in the first constant current charging phase is a charging current in a non-last-order constant current charging phase; determining an expansion force of the battery module; and determining, based on the expansion force, whether to adjust a current for charging the battery module from the charging current in the first constant current charging phase to a charging current in a second constant current charging phase, where the charging current in the second constant current charging phase is a charging current in a next-order constant current charging phase of the charging current in the first constant current charging phase.