Surveying Instrument Casing With Battery Inter-Charging Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery management for land surveying applications is not optimized, leading to inefficiencies in power supply and the need for frequent battery replacements during long or extensive measurements.
Innovation Solution
A portable casing with integrated battery management that includes a charging unit and a control unit to facilitate inter-charging among batteries, ensuring that a lesser discharged battery receives electrical energy from more discharged batteries, thereby extending the operational time of surveying instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If multiple batteries are brought to the field for replacement during long measurements, then the operational continuity is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to manual battery management
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic battery management through an inter-charging function where batteries automatically charge each other based on their charge levels. The control unit monitors battery states and directs charging current from batteries with higher charge to those with lower charge, eliminating the need for manual intervention in battery replacement and management during field operations.
2Use of energy by moving object
If batteries are charged externally before field deployment, then the initial charge level is improved, but the loss of time increases due to pre-charging requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions by enabling batteries to charge each other automatically upon insertion into the casing. This inter-charging function activates as soon as batteries are placed in the casing, preparing them for operation without requiring external pre-charging time, thus reducing the loss of time while maintaining high charge levels.
3Productivity
If a portable casing with inter-charging function is used, then the battery management efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple batteries and their charging functions into a single integrated portable casing. The control unit and charging circuitry are combined within the casing structure, allowing multiple batteries to interact and charge each other automatically. This consolidation improves battery management efficiency while containing the complexity within a unified device rather than requiring separate external management systems.
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 portable casing effectively manages battery resources by optimizing charging and discharging processes, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements and ensuring continuous power supply during long surveying operations.
Implementation Method 1
a charging unit arranged in the casing and electrically connected to the plurality of compartments for transferring electrical energy to and/or from the plurality of rechargeable batteries
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a portable casing for transporting a surveying instrument and a method for controlling charging of a plurality of batteries arranged in such a portable casing. The portable casing comprises a primary compartment for lodging the surveying instrument within the portable casing. The portable casing includes a plurality of secondary compartments for housing a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The portable casing also includes a charging unit arranged in the casing and electrically connected to the plurality of primary compartments for transferring electrical energy to and/or from the plurality of rechargeable batteries. Further, a control unit of the portable casing is configured to obtain information about the state of charge of each of the plurality of batteries arranged in the plurality of primary compartments, and control, based on the obtained information, an inter-charging function of the charging unit to cause, among batteries of the plurality of batteries that have a state of charge below a first threshold, a lesser discharged battery to receive electrical energy from at least one more discharged battery.