Single Port Charging and Discharging Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices require complex structures with two ports for charging and discharging, limiting their compact design and functionality, as they can only charge or discharge specific devices and not others, and are inefficient in user convenience.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a single port that can perform both charging and discharging operations using a connection terminal, a charging/discharging unit, and a controller to determine the connected cable type, allowing for charging or discharging based on the connected cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a charging/discharging electronic device includes both a charging port and a discharging port, then it can charge its own battery and charge external electronic devices, but the device structure becomes complex and the mounting space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single port is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect cable types (charging cable vs. discharging cable) and automatically switch between charging mode and discharging mode. The controller identifies the connected cable type through electrical characteristics and controls the charging/discharging unit accordingly, allowing one port to replace what would traditionally require two separate ports.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a charging/discharging electronic device includes both a charging port and a discharging port, then it can charge its own battery and charge external electronic devices, but the mounting space for two ports is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging port and discharging port functions into a single physical port. The same connection terminal is used for both charging external devices and discharging to external devices, eliminating the need for separate mounting spaces for two ports and reducing the overall device footprint.
3Reliability
If a battery charging device is dedicated to a particular electronic device, then it can charge that specific device's battery, but it cannot charge batteries of other electronic devices
Solution Approach 1:
The charging/discharging unit dynamically adapts its operation based on real-time detection of the connected cable type. The controller continuously monitors electrical characteristics at the single port and switches between charging mode and discharging mode as needed, allowing the device to reliably charge its own battery when a charging cable is connected and reliably discharge to external devices when a discharging cable is connected.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a connection terminal to which a charging cable or a discharging cable can be connected, a charging/discharging unit configured to perform a charging operation or a discharging operation, and a controller configured to perform a charging or discharging operation based on a cable connected to the connection terminal.