Dual-Input Power Management With Capacitor Peak-Load Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Batteries with a small form factor, commonly used in size-sensitive applications, often exhibit high impedance and low specific power, leading to excessive voltage drops when subjected to high peak electrical loads, potentially causing improper device operation and damage.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of power management devices with two input ports, a capacitor for buffering energy, and a single DC-to-DC converter to mitigate voltage drops and manage peak loads, enabling efficient energy transfer and conservation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a battery with a small form factor is used, then the device size is reduced, but the battery exhibits high impedance and low specific power causing excessive voltage drops under peak loads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery form factorVSAvoidvoltage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A capacitor is introduced as an intermediary energy storage device between the battery and the load. The capacitor buffers peak current demands, allowing the small battery to maintain stable voltage operation while the capacitor handles transient high-power requirements. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the battery's limited power capability from the load's peak power demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The power delivery function is segmented between two components: the battery provides baseline energy storage, while the capacitor handles peak power delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the use of a smaller battery while maintaining system reliability under peak loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a capacitor is added to buffer energy, then voltage drops are mitigated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidpower management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capacitor is integrated into the existing power management device architecture, merging the energy buffering function with the power management circuitry. This consolidation achieves voltage stabilization without requiring a completely separate complex system, as the capacitor works in conjunction with existing DC-to-DC converter and power management IC components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single DC-to-DC converter is used, then device size and cost are reduced, but managing multiple energy sources and loads becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management structureVSAvoidenergy transfer capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The single DC-to-DC converter is operated in multiple dynamic modes to handle different energy transfer scenarios. The converter can switch between charging the capacitor from the battery, discharging the capacitor to the load, and direct battery-to-load power transfer. This dynamic operation allows one converter to perform the work of multiple dedicated converters, maintaining versatility while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively stabilizes battery voltage during peak loads, preventing damage and ensuring proper device operation while promoting small size, low cost, and high efficiency in power management.

Implementation Method 1

a second input port configured to be electrically coupled to a capacitor, and a direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter configured to charge the capacitor from energy of the energy source and provide energy to the output port at least partially using energy stored in the capacitor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS20250023379A1Power management devices including multiple input ports, and associated systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 ANALOG DEVICES INT UNLTD CO

AI summary

A power management device includes a first input port configured to be electrically coupled to an energy source, a second input port configured to be electrically coupled to a capacitor, a first output port configured to be electrically coupled to a first load, and a direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter. The DC-to-DC converter is configured to (a) charge the capacitor from energy of the energy source and (b) provide energy to the first output port at least partially using energy stored in the capacitor. The energy source includes, for example, a battery.