Power Adapter Terminal Bidirectional Communication Charging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Quick charging of smartphones often results in over-temperature, overvoltage, and overcurrent issues, leading to potential damage due to the existing methods of increasing output current, and previous solutions like time division multiplexing for communication during charging affect efficiency and cause heating problems.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a bidirectional communication mechanism between the power adapter and the terminal via a data line to negotiate charging modes and parameters, allowing for safe transitions between regular and quick charging without overheating, using USB or micro USB interfaces for power and data lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If output current of power adapter is increased to achieve quick charging, then charging speed is improved, but over-temperature, overvoltage, overcurrent and interface burnout occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidover-temperature, overvoltage, overcurrent
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a communication mechanism between power adapter and terminal that enables real-time monitoring and control of charging state. The terminal sends charging requests specifying required current, and the adapter responds by adjusting output current dynamically based on battery state and safety conditions, preventing overcurrent and overtemperature issues while maintaining fast charging capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The charging current is made dynamic rather than fixed. The power adapter adjusts output current in real-time based on communication with the terminal, transitioning between different charging modes (standard and quick charging) according to battery state, temperature conditions, and safety requirements, thereby achieving both fast charging and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If time division multiplexing is applied on power line for communication during charging, then communication between adapter and terminal is enabled, but charging efficiency is affected and isolation element heats up severely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidcharging efficiency, heating of isolation element
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated data line as an intermediary channel for communication between power adapter and terminal. This separate communication path allows bidirectional data exchange without interfering with power transmission, eliminating the need for time division multiplexing and associated isolation elements, thereby maintaining full charging efficiency while enabling real-time communication for charging mode negotiation and monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3101768B1Power adapter and terminal
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3101768B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A power adapter and a terminal. The power adapter (10) comprises a power conversion unit (11) and a charging interface (12). The charging interface comprises a power cable. The power conversion unit forms a charging loop with a terminal by using the power cable, so as to charge a battery of the terminal. The power adapter also comprises a communications unit (13). The charging interface also comprises a data line. During connection between the power adapter and the terminal, the communications unit performs bidirectional communication with the terminal through the data line. By using the power adapter and the terminal, the phenomenon of heating of a power cable due to an excessively high load of a single isolation unit can be avoided.