Switching Regulator Power Manager for Battery-Powered Load
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems for battery-powered devices face inefficiencies due to voltage drop and current limitations, particularly when the battery is low or dead, leading to insufficient power delivery to the load and prolonged charging times.
Innovation Solution
A power manager using a switching regulator to control power delivery from a power source to both the load and battery, monitoring voltage and current to maintain limits and prioritize power to the load when the battery is depleted, employing a synchronous switching regulator and diode configurations to optimize power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a USB linear charger is used to provide current limited power directly to the battery, then the USB current constraint is maintained, but efficiency is sacrificed due to substantial voltage drop from USB input voltage to battery voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the charging system by using a switching regulator instead of a linear regulator. The switching regulator dynamically adjusts its duty cycle to maintain the desired output voltage while minimizing power loss, thereby changing the electrical parameters (voltage, current, duty cycle) to achieve both USB current compliance and reduced voltage drop losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the linear charging mechanism with a switching regulator mechanism. This substitution transforms the continuous voltage regulation approach into a pulsed switching approach with duty cycle control, which significantly reduces power dissipation while maintaining USB current constraints through synchronized switching of the regulator and charge pump
2Reliability
If the battery voltage is very low or battery is dead, then the battery dictates low voltage to the load, but there is not enough voltage to be applied to the load to run an application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct battery-to-load connection with a switching regulator interface. The switching regulator actively boosts or regulates the voltage from the battery to the load, allowing the load to receive adequate voltage even when the battery voltage is low or depleted, thereby enabling application operation during battery charging
Solution Approach 2:
The switching regulator acts as an intermediary between the battery and the load. It mediates the voltage mismatch by converting low battery voltage into sufficient load voltage, allowing power delivery to the load while simultaneously charging the battery from the USB source
3Reliability
If the battery is fully discharged, then several minutes of charging may be required before any load can be connected, but this prolongs the time before the application can run
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous useful action by allowing the load to operate simultaneously with battery charging. The switching regulator continuously delivers power to the load while also charging the battery from the USB source, eliminating idle charging time and ensuring uninterrupted application operation
Solution Approach 2:
The switching regulator performs preliminary voltage regulation and power distribution before the battery is fully charged. It proactively manages power allocation to ensure the load receives adequate voltage immediately, even while the battery is still charging, rather than waiting for charging to complete
4Reliability
If peak current of the load exceeds the 500 mA USB specification, then the current drawn from USB must be limited, but this restricts the available power for the load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic switching action in the switching regulator to deliver higher peak currents to the load while maintaining average current compliance with USB specifications. The regulator switches on and off at high frequency, providing pulsed current to the load that exceeds 500 mA peak while the average current remains within USB limits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the current delivery parameters by using duty cycle modulation. The switching regulator varies the duty cycle to control the average current drawn from USB while allowing peak current to the load to exceed USB limits during the on-time of the switching cycle, thereby increasing available power without violating USB specifications
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 solution enhances efficiency by maintaining power delivery to the load even when the battery is low, reducing power dissipation in the charger, and ensuring that available power is efficiently utilized under all conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A switching regulator may be provided to deliver power from the power source to the load and battery through the circuit path
Implementation Method 2
The first circuit may include, or be configured to operate as, a diode to provide the current from the battery to the load
Data Source
AI summary
A power manager is configured to manage power for a battery-powered application. A power source, a load and a battery are interconnected through a circuit path. Power from the power source is provided to the load and battery by a switching regulator. Various implementations are presented.