Smart Charging Control Circuit Inrush Current Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging devices face inefficiencies when charging multiple mobile electronic devices simultaneously, leading to delayed charging completion due to power distribution overloading, as they lack effective methods to manage inrush current and prioritize charging regions.

Innovation Solution

A smart charging method that uses a control circuit with current sensors and an inrush current prevention circuit, including an inrush switching relay and absorber, to filter out inrush current and manage charging periods by alternating charging between regions based on current demand, ensuring each region receives power within its maximal supply value.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple charging regions charge devices simultaneously, then charging throughput increases, but power distribution system overloads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging throughputVSAvoidpower distribution system stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The charging device is divided into multiple charging regions (first charging region, second charging region, etc.), each capable of independent charging operations. This segmentation allows the system to manage power distribution in discrete units, enabling controlled simultaneous charging while preventing overall system overload by limiting active charging regions based on power capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The charging system dynamically adjusts which charging regions are active based on real-time power availability and charging needs. The control circuit enables flexible switching between different charging region configurations, allowing the system to optimize power utilization by activating only as many regions as the power distribution system can reliably support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If charging regions operate in turns to prevent overload, then power distribution stability is maintained, but charging completion time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower distribution stabilityVSAvoidcharging completion time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The charging system implements periodic monitoring and control of power distribution status, with the control circuit regularly assessing current usage and adjusting active charging regions accordingly. This periodic action allows the system to maintain stability through controlled turn-based operation while minimizing idle time by quickly switching between charging regions based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit continuously monitors power distribution status and charging progress, using this feedback to dynamically adjust which charging regions are active. When power availability increases or charging needs change, the system can activate additional regions, thereby reducing overall charging completion time while maintaining power distribution stability through informed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If inrush current is not filtered, then charging response speed increases, but charging efficiency decreases due to power loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging response speedVSAvoidcharging efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inrush current prevention circuit is activated before charging begins in each charging region, preemptively filtering out inrush current to prevent power loss and efficiency degradation. This preliminary action ensures that when charging starts, the full power capacity is available for productive charging rather than being wasted on inrush current suppression during the charging process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively increases charging efficiency by filtering out inrush current and optimizing charging periods, allowing multiple devices to be charged more quickly and preventing power distribution overload.

Implementation Method 1

an inrush current prevention circuit, including an inrush switching relay and absorber, to filter out inrush current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInrush current absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11114879B2Smart charging method

Publication Date: 2021.09.07 CHEN-SOURCE INC

AI summary

A smart charging method can supply a charging device with power, and the charging device includes charging regions disposed inside thereof, and each charging region includes sockets for charging mobile electronic devices. The charging device includes a control circuit to perform automatic charging control on the mobile electronic devices plugged into the charging regions. During process of the automatic charging control, inrush current is filtered out, and when the total current required by at least two charging regions is higher than a maximal current supply value, the at least two charging regions take turn to charge for a first charging period; otherwise, the charging regions satisfying the condition, and remaining charging region can take turn to charge for a second charging period until the mobile electronic devices are fully charged. The smart charging method can filter out inrush current and effectively increase the charging efficiency.