Window Treatment Power Circuit for Battery Current Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized window treatments face challenges in efficiently managing energy storage and delivery, particularly when using alkaline batteries, which experience significant voltage drops under high current demands, leading to reduced battery lifespan and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
The motorized window treatment incorporates a compartment for alkaline batteries and an energy storage element, such as lithium batteries or supercapacitors, with a power converter circuit and motor drive circuit to manage energy storage and delivery. The control circuit regulates the battery current to maintain an open-circuit battery voltage reduction of no more than a set percentage, switching between battery power and energy storage element power based on voltage thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If alkaline batteries are used to power the motor directly, then the system is simple, but the batteries experience significant voltage drops under high current demands, reducing battery lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
A DC-DC converter circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the alkaline batteries and the motor. This converter manages current draw from the batteries, preventing excessive voltage drops and extending battery lifespan while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters by using a DC-DC converter to regulate voltage and current. The converter adjusts the current draw from the batteries to operate within optimal ranges, preventing voltage collapse and extending battery life.
2Power
If high current is drawn from alkaline batteries to meet peak motor power demands, then the motor can operate effectively, but the battery voltage drops significantly, reducing energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The DC-DC converter acts as an intermediary that efficiently transfers energy from the batteries to the motor. It manages the power conversion process to minimize energy losses during transmission and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic charging of the capacitor from the batteries during low-power intervals, then delivers power during high-power motor operation intervals. This periodic energy transfer optimizes efficiency by avoiding continuous high-current draws.
3Ease of manufacture
If alkaline batteries are used without voltage regulation, then the system is cost-effective, but the voltage instability reduces reliability of motor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The DC-DC converter provides voltage regulation and stabilization, ensuring reliable motor operation. It compensates for battery voltage variations and maintains consistent power delivery to the motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit monitors battery voltage and adjusts the DC-DC converter operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures stable motor operation by compensating for voltage drops in real-time.
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 extends the lifespan of alkaline batteries by managing current draw to minimize voltage drops, while the energy storage element ensures efficient power delivery to the motor, reducing peak current demands and prolonging battery life.
Implementation Method 1
a power converter circuit configured to conduct a battery current from the one or more batteries to charge the energy storage element
Implementation Method 2
The energy storage element may be comprised of a second battery chemistry, where the first battery chemistry is different from the second battery chemistry. For example, the one or more batteries comprise alkaline batteries... The energy storage element comprises one or more lithium batteries
Implementation Method 3
The motor drive unit may include a motor that is configured to control movement of a covering material of the motorized window treatment
Data Source
AI summary
A motorized window treatment may be configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The motorized window treatment may include a DC power source for charging an energy storage element, such as a supercapacitor and/or rechargeable battery. The energy storage element may be configured to provide power for the operation of a motor used to adjust the position of the covering material. The energy storage element may discharge when providing power to the motor and may charge such that the current it draws from a battery is at a desired average current level that extends the lifetime of the battery.