Pulsed Battery Charging Circuit for Fast Charge and Lifetime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advances in battery technology have not kept pace with market demand for improved charge storage capacity and extended operational lifetime, with existing charging methods inefficiently utilizing energy and leading to capacity fade over time.
Innovation Solution
A method and circuit for pulsed charging that focuses on quickly charging capacitive regions within battery cells, using controlled charging pulses to transfer energy into ionic storage form, with detection of full charge through derivatives of charge current and adaptive pulse timing to prevent overheating and enhance long-term battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional continuous charging is used, then charging simplicity is maintained, but charging speed is limited and capacity fade occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed charging instead of continuous charging. The charging current is delivered in repeated pulses with specific widths and intervals, allowing capacitive regions to charge quickly during pulse on-periods while avoiding overheating and capacity fade during off-periods. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by enabling faster charging without compromising battery lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts charging parameters including pulse width, pulse repetition rate, and current magnitude based on real-time battery state monitoring. The system adapts pulse characteristics during charging cycles to optimize both charging speed and battery health, resolving the contradiction between fast charging and battery reliability through dynamic parameter control.
2Speed
If higher charging current is applied to increase charging speed, then charging time is reduced, but temperature increases leading to capacity fade
Solution Approach 1:
The pulsed charging methodology delivers high current only during brief pulse on-periods, followed by off-periods that allow temperature to stabilize. This periodic application of high current achieves fast charging rates without sustained temperature increases that would cause capacity fade, resolving the contradiction between charging speed and temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively interrupts charging current during pulse off-periods to prevent temperature from rising to harmful levels. By anticipating temperature increase and applying counter-action (current interruption) before excessive heating occurs, the system achieves fast charging without the harmful temperature effects.
3Productivity
If pulse width is increased to charge capacitive regions faster, then charging efficiency improves, but risk of overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsing with optimized pulse widths that are sufficient to charge capacitive regions efficiently during on-periods, while the repeating off-periods prevent cumulative overheating. This periodic structure resolves the contradiction by enabling high charging efficiency without sustained thermal buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors battery temperature and charging progress in real-time, using this feedback to dynamically adjust pulse width and repetition rate. This feedback control ensures pulse parameters remain within safe thermal limits while maximizing charging efficiency, resolving the contradiction between productivity and overheating risk.
4Loss of energy
If traditional charging methods are used, then system complexity is minimized, but energy utilization is inefficient leading to capacity fade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulsed charging that efficiently transfers energy to both capacitive and ionic storage regions. By using repeated pulses with optimized timing, the system maximizes energy utilization and minimizes losses, achieving superior energy efficiency compared to continuous charging despite increased control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts pulse parameters based on battery state to optimize energy transfer efficiency at each charging stage. This dynamic control ensures maximum energy utilization while managing system complexity through intelligent parameter adjustment rather than hardware complexity.
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 approach enables faster overall charging without increased temperatures, improving both calendar life and charge cycle life by ensuring efficient energy use and minimizing capacity fade.
Implementation Method 1
charging a battery cell through an improved pulsed charging process involving: applying a charging pulse to the battery cell for a time period sufficient to charge capacitive regions in the battery cell
Implementation Method 2
transfer energy into ionic storage form
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for charging a battery cell includes first transferring of energy from a power source to a plurality of capacitive regions in the battery cell followed by transferring of charge stored in the plurality of capacitive regions of the battery cell into at least an electrolytic mixture that comprises the battery cell and electrodes immersed in the electrolyte mixture. The capacitive regions in the battery cell comprise capacitive double layers between the electrolyte mixture and particles of active material that comprise the battery cell. The transferring of energy from the power source to the capacitive regions occurs for a first duration of time sufficient to substantially fully charge the capacitive regions.