Multi-Stage Battery Charging Control to Shorten Charge Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current battery charging methods are inefficient due to the long duration of the constant-voltage charging stage, which prolongs the overall charging process and decreases charging speed, especially when charging batteries with multiple cells.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multi-stage constant-current charging method where the charging voltage and cell voltages are monitored to progress through stages with decreasing current levels, allowing the battery to reach higher cut-off voltages, thereby prolonging constant-current charging and reducing the overall charging time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional charging procedure with constant-voltage charging stage is used, then battery voltage is controlled within rated voltage, but charging process becomes too long and charging speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery voltage controlVSAvoidcharging process duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The charging process is segmented into multiple constant-current charging stages with different current values. Each stage charges the battery at a different current level until a voltage threshold is reached, then transitions to the next stage with a lower current. This segmentation allows the battery to be charged more efficiently by avoiding the prolonged constant-voltage stage while still controlling voltage within safe limits through staged current reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multi-stage constant-current charging with cut-off voltage higher than rated voltage is applied, then constant-current charging duration is prolonged and charging speed increases, but voltage exceeds rated voltage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidbattery voltage safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The charging system dynamically changes voltage parameters by implementing multiple constant-current stages with progressively lower currents. Each stage has a specific current value and corresponding voltage threshold. The system allows voltage to temporarily exceed the rated voltage during constant-current stages but transitions to lower current stages before voltage becomes dangerous, thus achieving faster charging while maintaining battery safety through parameter dynamic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 shortens the entire charging process by prolonging the constant-current charging phase, increasing charging speed and efficiency, while eliminating the need for a prolonged constant-voltage charging stage.

Implementation Method 1

a battery which includes multiple cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical reactions: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentEP3843238B1Charging control method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3843238B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3843238B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3843238B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A charging control method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium are provided. The method is applicable to a device to-be-charged. The device to-be-charged includes a battery which includes multiple cells. The method includes the following. In charging of the device to-be-charged, K stages of constant-current charging is applied to the battery, where K is a positive integer greater than or equal to one. In each of the K stages, a preset current corresponding to the stage is applied to the battery for constant-current charging until a voltage of the battery reaches a preset voltage corresponding to the stage. In each of the K stages, a charging voltage applied to the battery and a voltage across each of the multiple cells are detected. When the charging voltage and/or a voltage across any of the multiple cells is higher than the preset voltage corresponding to the stage, the device to-be-charged is controlled to proceed to a next constant-current charging stage.