R-Aware Charging Algorithm for Battery Capacity Fading Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fast charging technologies for mobile devices accelerate battery capacity fading due to their constant current and voltage charging methods, which are not adaptable to users' available charging time, often leading to incomplete charging and premature termination of the constant voltage phase, thereby shortening battery life.
Innovation Solution
The R-Aware charging algorithm adjusts the charging process based on users' available time by introducing a relaxation-aware approach that triggers the constant voltage phase earlier and optimizes charging parameters such as threshold voltage, constant current, and current cutoff to maximize charged capacity while ensuring battery relaxation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fast charging technology with high charging rate is used, then charging speed is improved, but battery capacity fading is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The charging algorithm dynamically adjusts charging parameters based on user available time. It transitions from static CCCV charging to a dynamic two-phase approach where the first phase uses high current for speed and the second phase uses reduced current to complete charging within user-defined time windows, adapting the charging profile to temporal constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes charging parameters by introducing a time-based control mechanism. It modifies the charging current profile from constant to time-varying, where the current is adjusted based on the user's available charging time, enabling the system to optimize between speed and battery health based on temporal availability
2Productivity
If CCCV charging method is used, then charging efficiency is improved, but battery relaxation is insufficient leading to faster capacity fading
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is segmented into two distinct phases: a first charging phase using high current for efficiency, and a second charging phase with reduced current for battery relaxation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high charging efficiency and adequate battery relaxation by separating the conflicting requirements into sequential operational stages
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial CCCV charging followed by a relaxation phase. Instead of continuous high-current charging, it uses high current only for the first phase and then reduces current in the second phase to provide sufficient relaxation, applying excessive action (high current) only when necessary and partial action (reduced current) when relaxation is needed
3Ease of operation
If user-unaware charging is used, then charging simplicity is maintained, but charging time optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by obtaining user input regarding available charging time and using this information to adjust the charging profile. The charging algorithm receives feedback about user temporal constraints and modifies its operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user needs while maintaining simplicity through automated decision-making
4Loss of time
If CV-Chg phase is shortened or skipped, then charging time is reduced, but battery relaxation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial CV-Chg phase by using high current only for the first phase and then reducing current in the second phase. This partial application of high-current charging followed by a relaxation phase ensures that sufficient relaxation time is provided while still achieving the majority of charging during the high-efficiency first phase, preventing complete skipping of the relaxation period
Data Source
AI summary
An user-interactive charging paradigm is presented that tailors the device charging to the user's real-time needs. The core of approach is a relaxation-aware charging algorithm that maximizes the charged capacity within the user's available time and slows down the battery's capacity fading. The approach also integrates relaxation-aware charging algorithm existing fast charging algorithms via a user-interactive interface, allowing users to choose a charging method based on their real-time needs. The relaxation-aware charging algorithm is shown to slow down the battery fading by over 36% on average, and up to 60% in extreme cases, when compared with existing fast charging solutions. Such fading slowdown translates to, for instance, an up to 2-hour extension of the LTE time for a Nexus 5X phone after 2-year usage, revealed by a trace-driven analysis based on 976 charging cases collected from 7 users over 3 months.