Multi-Stage Voltage Conversion for Fast Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery charging systems face limitations in speed due to low current amplitude from energy sources, leading to inefficient power conversion and excessive heat dissipation, which hinders fast charging of rechargeable batteries.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage voltage conversion system comprising a first and second power converter, controlled by a controller, that generates a charging pulse by down-converting input voltage into intermediate voltages, increasing average current to the battery while minimizing heat dissipation through multiple voltage conversion cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional power converters are used to convert high voltage low current input to low voltage high current output for fast charging, then charging speed increases, but heat dissipation exceeds the designated limit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the voltage conversion process into multiple stages: a first power converter performs initial voltage conversion, and a second power converter performs subsequent voltage conversion. This segmentation allows each converter to operate at lower power levels, reducing heat dissipation while achieving the required high current output for fast charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate voltage stage between the input and final output. The first power converter converts input voltage to an intermediate voltage, and the second power converter converts the intermediate voltage to the final low voltage high current output. This intermediary approach distributes the conversion stress across multiple components, reducing heat generation in any single converter.
2Loss of time
If higher current is provided to the battery to increase charging speed, then charging time decreases, but power conversion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power conversion process into multiple stages with intermediate voltage levels. This allows current to be gradually increased while maintaining better power conversion efficiency at each stage, rather than attempting a single large-step conversion that would be highly inefficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of the multi-stage power conversion process, adjusting operating parameters at each stage to optimize efficiency while delivering high current to the battery. This dynamic approach maintains better overall power conversion efficiency compared to static single-stage converters.
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 fast battery charging by pumping high current into batteries with reduced heat dissipation, improving charging efficiency and power preservation.
Implementation Method 1
Each voltage conversion cycle includes obtaining an input voltage by a first power converter from a power supply, generating a plurality of intermediate voltages based on the input voltage by the first power converter
Implementation Method 2
providing one or more of the plurality of intermediate voltages to a second power converter, and generating by the second power converter one or more portions of a charging pulse, based on the one or more of the plurality of intermediate voltages
Implementation Method 3
In the voltage conversion cycles, the increase in average current to the battery makes up for the reduction in input voltage, and ideally preserves the power provided to the battery
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A pulse charging for a battery includes multi-stage voltage conversion. At first stage, an input voltage from a power supply is divided into a plurality of intermediate voltages. At second stage, one or more of the plurality of intermediate voltage are further down converted to generate one or more portions of a charging pulse to be applied to the battery. The down conversion of the input voltage to the output voltage is accompanied by increase in charging current that is applied to the battery. The higher charging current applied to the battery results in fast charging of the battery. Also, the described multi-stage voltage conversion circuitry has high efficiency which alleviates problem of heat dissipation associated with the voltage conversion for charging of the battery.