Pulse Charging Regulator for Battery Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charging systems face inefficiencies when dealing with diverse power sources, as they often require tailored circuitry to process varying voltages and currents, leading to potential damage, inefficient charging, or long charging times due to mismatched power source characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A circuit that includes a regulator with a detection circuit to configure modes based on the power source type, using pulse mode charging with switching regulators in buck or boost modes to optimize current and voltage delivery to the battery, ensuring efficient charging regardless of the power source characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a battery charging system uses tailored circuitry for each power source type, then the battery charging efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system employs a universal charging circuit that can handle multiple power source types (AC adapters, DC sources, USB sources) through a single integrated design. The system uses a regulator with detection circuitry that automatically identifies the power source type and adjusts operating parameters accordingly, eliminating the need for separate tailored circuits for each power source while maintaining charging efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the voltages and currents from power source are not properly processed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the battery reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system incorporates automatic detection circuitry that identifies the power source type and independently configures the regulator operating mode without external intervention. The system self-adjusts voltage and current processing parameters based on detected power source characteristics, ensuring proper battery protection while minimizing the need for complex external control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses detection circuitry to monitor power source characteristics and provides feedback to the regulator control logic. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the regulator operating mode (pass mode for AC adapters, regulation mode for USB sources) to ensure safe and efficient battery charging while maintaining simple circuit design.
3Device complexity
If the charging system uses a single regulator mode for all power sources, then the device complexity is reduced, but the charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically switches between different regulator operating modes based on the detected power source type. The regulator can operate in pass mode (for AC adapters with higher power capability) to enable faster charging, or in regulation mode (for USB sources with lower power capability) to ensure safe charging. This dynamic adaptation optimizes charging time while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method comprising determining if a maximum current output of a power source is above a threshold, configuring a regulator coupled to the power source, wherein the regulator is configured in a pass mode if the maximum current output is above the threshold, and wherein the regulator is configured in a regulation mode if the maximum current output is below the threshold, and generating pulses to a battery, wherein an output of the regulator is coupled to the battery when a pulse is being generated, and the output of the regulator is decoupled from the battery when a pulse is not being generated. In other embodiments, the techniques may be embodied in a circuit including a detection circuit and a switching regulator coupled to a battery through a pulse circuit.