Battery Charging With Staged Voltage Drop for Faster, Cooler Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing capacity of batteries in electronic devices leads to longer charging times and increased heat emission, reducing charging efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a first charging unit that adjusts voltage based on battery information, using a second charging unit to drop the voltage according to a preset rate, and a controller to manage the charging process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If high power is supplied to charge the battery by raising the voltage of the charger, then charging time is shortened, but heat emission increases and charging efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging timeVSAvoidcharging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment during the charging process. The charging unit raises voltage during initial charging to reduce charging time, then dynamically lowers the voltage when the battery reaches a certain charge level. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the balance between charging speed and energy efficiency, preventing excessive heat generation while maintaining short charging times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the voltage parameter during the charging process based on battery state. It transitions from high voltage charging to low voltage charging as the battery charge level increases. This parameter change allows the system to achieve fast charging when needed while avoiding the energy loss and heat emission associated with sustained high voltage charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If high power is supplied to charge the battery by raising the voltage of the charger, then charging time is shortened, but heat emission increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging timeVSAvoidheat emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The charging system dynamically adjusts voltage based on real-time battery conditions. During early charging stages, high voltage is applied to minimize charging time. As the battery approaches full charge, the system automatically reduces voltage to prevent excessive heat generation, thus resolving the contradiction between fast charging and heat control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of high voltage (excessive heat generation) into a benefit by implementing staged charging. The high voltage phase is deliberately limited to early charging when heat generation is more manageable, while later stages use lower voltage to control temperature. This transforms the harmful effect into a controlled, beneficial process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 method shortens charging time, minimizes heat emission, and improves charging efficiency by precisely controlling voltage and current based on battery conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a second charging unit configured to charge the battery by dropping the voltage applied to the first terminal based on a preset voltage drop rate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage drop: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3767783B1Battery charging method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3767783B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3767783B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3767783B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery charging method and an electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device can comprise: a connection unit comprising a first terminal to which a voltage is applied by an external device, and a second terminal for transmitting/receiving data; a first charging unit for charging a battery connected to the electronic device by using the voltage applied to the first terminal; and a second charging unit for charging the battery by dropping the voltage applied to the first terminal according to a preset voltage drop rate. The first charging unit can comprise: a first switch connected to the first terminal; a communication unit for transmitting information through the second terminal; and a first control unit for acquiring first information on the battery voltage, controlling the communication unit such that the first information is transmitted to a charger connected to the connection unit, and controlling the first switch such that the voltage adjusted on the basis of the first information by the charger is supplied to the second charging unit through the first terminal.