Remote Battery Sensing via Intermediary Sense Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote battery sensing and charging systems face inaccuracies due to parasitic impedance in charging cables, leading to inconsistent voltage readings and potential charger instability or damage when a battery is not present.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a comparator, switches, and resistors to determine if a battery is present, electrically coupling the battery terminal to a reference voltage input when coupled and to the charge output when not coupled, ensuring accurate charging and stability by minimizing voltage drops across cables and providing a path for current when no battery is present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote battery sensing is implemented through a cable connection, then the charger can be located remotely from the battery, but parasitic impedance in the cable causes voltage drop leading to inaccurate voltage readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sense wire (separate from the power-carrying cable) that directly connects the sensing circuit to the battery terminal. This intermediary pathway bypasses the parasitic impedance of the main cable, allowing accurate voltage sensing without requiring the charger to be physically adjacent to the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the sensing function from the power delivery function by using distinct conductors: one cable for charging current and another dedicated sense wire for voltage measurement. This segmentation allows each function to be optimized independently, with the sense wire having minimal impedance for accurate measurements while the main cable handles power delivery.
2Ease of operation
If the charger supplies current through a cable with parasitic impedance, then the battery can be charged remotely, but the voltage drop across the cable causes inconsistent voltage readings
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated sense wire acts as an intermediary measurement pathway that bypasses the power-carrying cable's parasitic impedance. This separate pathway provides accurate real-time voltage feedback to the charging circuit, enabling reliable charging control even when the charger is remotely located from the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The sense wire is designed with specific local properties (minimal impedance, direct connection) at the battery terminal interface, while the main cable handles bulk power delivery. This local optimization of the sensing pathway ensures accurate voltage measurement at the point of charge without being affected by the overall cable impedance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If no battery is present at the charger output, then the charger should remain stable, but parasitic impedance causes floating voltage readings leading to charger instability or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The sense wire is pre-configured and connected to the charger circuitry before battery insertion. This preliminary connection ensures that the sensing pathway is already established and grounded through the charger's internal circuitry, preventing floating voltage conditions and stabilizing the charger output even when no battery is present.
Solution Approach 2:
The sense wire serves as an intermediary that provides a defined electrical pathway from the charger output to ground, even in the absence of a battery. This intermediary connection prevents floating potentials and stabilizes the charger circuitry, allowing it to operate safely without a battery connected.
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 significantly reduces the effects of parasitic impedance, providing accurate battery voltage sensing and maintaining charger stability even when a battery pack is absent, thus enhancing the reliability of remote battery charging systems.
Implementation Method 1
A method and system utilizing a comparator, switches, and resistors to determine if a battery is present
Implementation Method 2
electrically coupling the battery terminal to a reference voltage input when coupled and to the charge output when not coupled, ensuring accurate charging and stability by minimizing voltage drops across cables
Implementation Method 3
Remote battery sensing and charging systems face inaccuracies due to parasitic impedance in charging cables, leading to inconsistent voltage readings
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for remote battery sensing and charging are disclosed. A method may include determining whether a charge output of a battery charger is electrically coupled to a rechargeable battery, wherein the charge output is configured to charge the rechargeable battery. The method may also include electrically coupling a terminal of the rechargeable battery to a reference voltage input of the battery charger in response to determining the charge output is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery, wherein the battery charger is configured to determine whether the rechargeable battery is to be charged based on the reference voltage input voltage. The method may further include electrically coupling the reference voltage input to the charge output in response to determining the charge output is not electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery.