Removable Battery Pack Switching Circuit for Low Quiescent Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exchangeable battery packs face issues with high quiescent currents and unreliable switching of charge or discharge currents due to voltage fluctuations, which can lead to unfavorable effects such as further voltage decreases.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack with a monitoring device, a MOSFET switching element, and an interface comprising multiple electrical contacts, where the monitoring device converts voltage into a measurement value to actuate the switching element, comparing it with a limit value to interrupt or enable current, thereby protecting the battery voltage from excessive fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a switching element is used to interrupt or enable charge or discharge current, then current control reliability is improved, but quiescent current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring function from the main control circuit and implements it through a dedicated monitoring device that operates independently. The monitoring device includes a measurement circuit that converts monitoring voltage to measurement values, allowing the switching element to be controlled based on accurate voltage monitoring without requiring continuous high-power circuit operation, thus reducing quiescent current while maintaining reliable current control
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device implements feedback by continuously monitoring the battery pack voltage and comparing measurement values with limit values. When the voltage exceeds or undershoots the limit values, the monitoring device actuates the switching element to interrupt the current, and when voltage returns to the normal range, current is enabled again. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable current control while allowing the system to operate in low-power states during normal conditions
2Stability of the object's composition
If monitoring voltage is derived from supply potential, then voltage fluctuation protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a measurement circuit as an intermediary between the supply potential and the monitoring function. The measurement circuit converts the monitoring voltage (derived from supply potential) into measurement values that can be compared with limit values. This intermediary structure protects the switching element and control logic from voltage fluctuations while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture through functional decomposition
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 solution effectively reduces quiescent currents, ensures reliable switching, and prevents voltage dips, ensuring the battery pack operates efficiently and safely by interrupting the load current when voltage limits are exceeded or undershot, thus maintaining the battery voltage at its open-circuit potential.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first switching element, in particular a MOSFET... the monitoring device can actuate the at least one first switching element such that a charge or discharge current is interrupted or enabled
Implementation Method 2
a measurement circuit, which converts a voltage value of a monitoring voltage into a measurement value of a measurement voltage to actuate the at least one first switching element
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a monitoring device, at least one first switching element, an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts, and a measurement circuit. The monitoring device is configured to actuate the at least one first switching element, such that a charge or discharge current is interrupted or enabled via at least two of the electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts. The measurement circuit is configured to convert a voltage value of a monitoring voltage into a measurement value of a measurement voltage in order to actuate the at least one first switching element. The monitoring device is configured to compare the measurement value with at least one first limit value and, when the limit value is exceeded or undershot, the monitoring device is configured to open the at least one first switching element.