Power Supplying System Prevents Abnormal End via Instantaneous Switch

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In power supplying systems, when the external power from an AC adapter is disconnected from an electronic apparatus without a valid battery, the system can experience instantaneous voltage drops, leading to abnormal endings, as existing techniques fail to seamlessly switch to internal battery power in such scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A power supplying system comprising an electronic apparatus and a connection apparatus with first and second power feed units, an external power feed connection unit, a selection unit, and a control unit that prioritizes external power over internal battery power and switches to internal power when external power is disconnected, ensuring continuous operation by selecting the power feed unit with a valid battery voltage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cable of the AC adapter is removed from one electronic apparatus having no battery with valid voltage, then the external power supply is disconnected, but the power feed voltage instantaneously drops below the termination voltage causing abnormal end

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidvoltage drop

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of battery voltage status in both apparatuses before external power disconnection. When voltage drop is detected or external power is removed, the system has already identified the second apparatus with valid battery voltage, enabling immediate switching without waiting for the voltage to drop below termination level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The second apparatus with valid battery acts as an intermediary power source. When the first apparatus loses external power and has no valid battery, the system switches to receiving power from the second apparatus through the connection cable, preventing voltage drop below termination voltage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the system prioritizes external power over internal battery power, then energy efficiency is improved, but switching delay occurs when external power is disconnected causing abnormal end

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower utilization efficiencyVSAvoidswitching time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the voltage status of batteries in both apparatuses and the presence of external power. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect external power disconnection or voltage drop conditions in real-time and immediately switch to the second apparatus as the power source, eliminating switching delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If two apparatuses are connected for power sharing, then power supply reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply continuityVSAvoidpower feed structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection cable between the two apparatuses serves multiple functions: it enables data communication, allows bidirectional power sharing, and provides mutual charging capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated power cables, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the power feed units and battery management systems of two apparatuses into a unified power management architecture. The selection unit and control unit coordinate both apparatuses to function as a single power system, where either apparatus can serve as the power source, simplifying the overall control logic despite the dual-apparatus configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11342785B2Power supplying system, electronic apparatus, and power supplying method

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

There are provided a power supplying system, an electronic apparatus, and a power supplying method capable of surely preventing an abnormal end even in a case where supply of external power is disconnected in an apparatus having no battery with a valid voltage. The supply system includes a first power feed unit (11) that preferentially outputs external power rather than internal power from a first battery (12) in an electronic apparatus (10), a second power feed unit (21) that preferentially outputs the external power rather than internal power from a second battery (22) in a connection apparatus (20), an external power feed connection unit (external power feed connection path (L3)) that connects an external power feed path (L1) to the first power feed unit (11) and an external power feed path (L2) to the second power feed unit (21), a selection unit (13) that selects one of the first power feed unit (11) and the second power feed unit (21), and a control unit (15) that causes the selection unit (13) to select a power feed unit that receives the internal power between the first power feed unit (11) and the second power feed unit (21).