Supplemental Capacitor Charging Control for Variable Input Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable charging devices for electronic devices often lack efficient power management systems that can effectively utilize both supercapacitors and batteries to provide reliable and extended charging capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A portable charging device equipped with a power management system that includes a processor to control the distribution of power between a supercapacitor and a battery, ensuring that the supercapacitor is charged first, and then power is directed to the battery, with a trickle charge maintained to keep the supercapacitor fully charged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is always diverted to the supercapacitor until full charge, then the supercapacitor maintains high charge status for quick power delivery, but the battery charging is delayed and the overall charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system dynamically adjusts the power distribution strategy based on real-time conditions. It switches between different charging modes: prioritizing supercapacitor charging when high reliability is needed, using balanced charging when time is critical, and employing trickle charging to maintain supercapacitor readiness. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between reliability and charging time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging parameters (power allocation ratios, charging currents) based on the selected mode. In time-critical mode, the battery receives higher power allocation while the supercapacitor receives maintenance-level charging. In reliability mode, the supercapacitor receives priority charging. This parameter adjustment resolves the trade-off between charging speed and power delivery reliability.
2Power
If the supercapacitor is continuously charged to full capacity, then it can provide immediate high power output, but it prevents the battery from being charged efficiently and increases overall charging duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial charging action to the supercapacitor in time-critical scenarios, charging it only to the level needed for immediate power delivery rather than to full capacity. This allows the battery to charge simultaneously at higher rates, reducing overall charging duration while maintaining sufficient available power for the electronic device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of charging requirements and selects the appropriate charging mode before initiating power transfer. By determining in advance whether time or power availability is the priority, the system can pre-configure the power distribution strategy, avoiding the need to over-charge the supercapacitor and thereby reducing charging duration.
3Productivity
If power management prioritizes battery charging over supercapacitor charging, then overall charging speed improves, but the supercapacitor may be depleted and cannot provide backup power
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system continuously monitors the charge status of both the supercapacitor and battery, as well as the power input availability. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts the power distribution to ensure the supercapacitor maintains sufficient charge for backup functionality while allowing the battery to charge at optimal speeds. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between charging speed and power supply reliability.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the system uses complex power management logic to optimize both supercapacitor and battery charging, then power distribution efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system is segmented into distinct operational modes (time-critical mode, reliability mode, balanced mode) with predefined power distribution strategies for each. This segmentation simplifies the control logic by avoiding the need for continuous complex optimization calculations, while still achieving efficient power distribution appropriate to the current charging scenario.
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
The device achieves efficient power storage and distribution, ensuring that electronic devices can be charged reliably and for extended periods, even when the input power is variable or low.
Implementation Method 1
A portable charging device contains a supercapacitor and a battery
Implementation Method 2
A portable charging device contains a supercapacitor and a battery
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are presented relating to a hybrid portable charging device having an internal battery and an internal supercapacitor. Input logic is implemented as part of the management system for the charging device. In one embodiment, input power is analyzed to determine whether the input power level is low, medium, or high, with input power being diverted to the battery or supercapacitor depending on the determined input power level. At high input power, the supercapacitor is charged first. At low input power, the battery is charged first. At medium power, the input power is split between the supercapacitor and the battery. In another embodiment, output can be directed using output logic so that power flows first from the supercapacitor so that the supercapacitor is fully discharged before battery power is output to the load on the charging device.