Smartphone Add-On Power Interface With Protected-Battery Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power delivery systems in smartphones and peripheral devices, such as those using USB Type-C connectors, face inefficiencies due to voltage conversions, which reduce battery endurance and cause heat dissipation, and may disrupt continuous power supply to peripheral devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a protected-battery power delivery mode that directly connects the smartphone's battery to the peripheral device through battery protection circuitry, bypassing voltage up and down conversions, and dynamically switching pins between power and data functions to optimize power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If voltage conversion is used in power delivery, then power can be delivered through standard interfaces, but power losses increase and battery endurance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage conversion step from the power delivery path by establishing a direct connection between the battery and the peripheral device through protected-battery power delivery pins, eliminating the intermediate voltage conversion process that causes power losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces battery protection circuitry as an intermediary component that enables direct battery power delivery while providing necessary protection functions, serving as a mediator between the battery and peripheral device without requiring full voltage conversion
2Power
If voltage conversion is used in power delivery, then power can be regulated, but heat dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the voltage conversion stage from the power delivery path, thereby eliminating the primary source of heat generation associated with up-conversion and down-conversion processes, while maintaining power delivery capability through direct battery connection
3Use of energy by moving object
If smartphone power mode changes, then power consumption is optimized, but peripheral device power supply may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power delivery path into independent protected-battery power delivery pins that operate independently of the smartphone's internal power management, allowing the peripheral device to receive stable power directly from the battery even when the smartphone enters low-power modes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous power supply to the peripheral device by establishing a direct battery connection that maintains power flow independent of smartphone power state changes, preventing disruptions during mode transitions
4Adaptability or versatility
If standard combined data/power interface is used, then data and power can be transmitted together, but power delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designating specific pins within the combined data/power interface as protected-battery power delivery pins with dedicated direct battery connection, while other pins handle data transmission, optimizing each pin's function to reduce overall power losses
Data Source
AI summary
A system incorporating a smartphone and an add-on device coupled to each other via combined data/power interface, the smartphone having a rechargeable battery connected to battery protection circuitry and the add-on device optionally having a rechargeable battery connected to battery protection circuitry as well, the combined data/power interface having one or more data pins for transferring data between the smartphone and the add-on device, one or more regulated power delivery pins, and one or more protected-battery power delivery pins, wherein the regulated power delivery pins are used to charge the battery of the smartphone from an external charger coupled to the add-on device, the batteries are connected to the battery protection circuitries that is configured to protect the battery by cutoff or limit the current or voltage on the battery electrodes, and the protected-battery power delivery pins are connected to the battery protection circuitries of the smartphone or add-on device.