Switch Unit Direct Charging Path Control for Adapter Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face damage due to uncontrolled direct charging when a charge protection and monitoring mechanism fails, leading to potential harm to adapters, charging cables, and battery components.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a switch unit that selectively turns on or off a direct charging path based on communication signals from an adapter, allowing for safe charging by determining whether the adapter supports direct charging and controlling the charging mode accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a direct charging path is provided in an electronic device to enable fast charging, then charging speed is improved, but the risk of damage to adapters, charging cables, and battery components increases when the charge protection monitoring mechanism fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a switch unit as an intermediary component between the power input interface and the battery. This switch unit acts as a mediator that can selectively connect or disconnect the direct charging path based on communication signals from the adapter, thereby enabling fast charging when safe and preventing damage when the protection mechanism fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing a communication mechanism between the electronic device and the adapter before charging begins. The device sends a direct charging support inquiry signal to the adapter, and only after receiving confirmation does it activate the switch unit to enable the direct charging path. This preliminary verification prevents unsafe direct charging scenarios.
2Reliability
If a switch unit is added to control the direct charging path based on communication signals, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch unit is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall device complexity. It serves multiple purposes: controlling the direct charging path, responding to adapter communication signals, and working in conjunction with existing protection mechanisms. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the patent minimizes the increase in device complexity while achieving enhanced safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic device configured to be charged with an adapter. The electronic device includes an energy storage unit, a charging unit and a switch unit. The charging unit is configured to receive a bus voltage and output a charging voltage to charge the energy storage unit. The switch unit is electrically coupled in parallel to the charging unit. When the electronic device is coupled to the adapter through a bus interface, the electronic device receives the bus voltage from the adapter, receives a communication signal from the adapter, and selectively turns on or off the switch unit according to the communication signal, and when the electronic device operates in a direct charging mode, the switch unit is turned on to form a direct charging path, to charge the energy storage unit by using the bus voltage.