Semiconductor Battery Level Detection via Voltage Difference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery level detection methods, particularly coulomb-counting, require multiple circuits and sense resistances, leading to high costs and large device sizes, and struggle with accuracy when load variations and battery deterioration occur, making them unsuitable for low-cost IoT applications.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a voltage detection section, correction section, and calculation section that uses potential differences between open circuit and applied voltages to estimate battery levels without a coulomb-counter circuit or sense resistance, employing an OCV-SOC table to calculate the remaining battery level based on minimum voltage values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coulomb-counting method is used with voltage detection circuit and coulomb-counter circuit, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the coulomb-counter circuit and sense resistance from the battery level detection system, retaining only the voltage detection circuit. The invention achieves accurate remaining battery level detection by using a simplified configuration that measures voltage at different load conditions and calculates the difference, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex electrical measurement system (coulomb-counter circuit and sense resistance) with a voltage difference measurement approach. By measuring voltage under loaded and unloaded conditions and calculating the potential difference, the system substitutes direct current integration with voltage-based inference, reducing component requirements.
2Device complexity
If voltage method is used for remaining battery level detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic measurement by taking voltage readings under different operational conditions (loaded and unloaded states). Instead of a single static voltage measurement, the system captures voltage differences across varying load conditions, enabling more accurate inference of remaining battery level while keeping the device configuration simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses voltage difference as an intermediary parameter to infer remaining battery level. By measuring voltage under different load conditions and using the potential difference as a mediator, the system achieves accurate battery level detection without requiring complex direct measurement circuits.
3Measurement precision
If multiple tables are provided to account for battery deterioration, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from absolute voltage to voltage difference between loaded and unloaded states. This parameter transformation inherently compensates for battery deterioration effects, as the voltage difference remains relatively stable even as the battery ages. This eliminates the need for multiple correction tables while maintaining measurement precision under deterioration conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device including: a voltage detection section that outputs a first voltage and a second voltage that is different from the first voltage, the first voltage and the second voltage being voltages of a connected battery; a correction section that, on the basis of potential differences between the first voltage and second voltage, derives second data from first data, the first data representing a relationship between remaining battery levels and open circuit voltages, and the second data representing a relationship between remaining battery levels and battery voltages; and a calculation section that calculates a remaining level of the battery on the basis of a remaining battery level corresponding to a minimum voltage in the second data and outputs the calculated remaining level of the battery.